Strengths
Fresh water
Clean air
Biomass
High-quality soils
Fisheries
Woodlands of mixed species
Downtown district heating system
Hydropower
Nuclear
MC Pure Waters
Walkable and bikeable
Mainline rail service
Water transportation via lake and canal
Urban tree canopy
Urban parks
Relatively compact
Top medical care and research
Major technical research centers
Educated workforce (suburban)
Moderate climate
Not oceanfront (elevated)
Limited natural disasters
Weaknesses
Aging urban infrastructure
High urban rates of poverty and births
Low RCSD test scores
Seasonal cloudiness
Outflow of money for fuels
Opportunities
Potential energy sources in wind, solar, geothermal and biofuels
Potential for additional hydropower
Not overly sprawled; room to densify
Threats
Unknown impacts of warming climate on precipitation, water temperature, ecology
Plastics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals in water
Invasive species
Generational failure of city families and students
Racial, social and economic disparities
Aging population
Declining manufacturing
