2015

Michigan can comply with federal Clean Power Plan for a decade with no changes

“We urge Governor Snyder and his team not to rely too heavily on natural gas at the expense of clean, renewable energy like wind and solar when it comes to meeting Michigan’s energy needs,” said EIBC president Liesl Clark. “The initial Clean Power Plan modeling released today by the state of Michigan assumes the lowest-cost scenario for natural gas, which also poses the greatest risk for residential and business ratepayers. Clean energy will reduce that risk should the ‘best-case’ scenario for energy prices fail to materialize.”

Residents, business owners, land owners support wind development in Gratiot County

  More than 50 attend interactive Wind Works Michigan community conversation on the future of wind   ITHACA—Last Thursday, more than fifty local residents, business owners and landowners attended a community conversation on Gratiot County wind farms hosted by Wind Works Michigan. The purpose of the meeting was to start a dialogue about community values, …

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Lansing City Pulse: BWL Citizens Advisory Committee

The Lansing City Pulse featured members of the BWL Citizens Advisory Committee including 5 Lakes principal Douglas Jester on their October 9 Newsmakers show. Watch the interview and learn more at LansingCityPulse.com. [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2uL8jqS8lQ[/youtube] http://lansingenergytomorrow.com/news/lansing-city-pulse-newsmakers/

Beer, bipartisanship and how the POWER Act can help Michigan

(The following commentary appeared in Midwest Energy News on December 2, 2015) There is a bill under consideration by Congress that stands out as an example of both sound policy and good politics. Located at the intersection of energy and tax policy – S. 1516/H.R. 2657, the Power Efficiency and Resiliency (POWER) Act – would …

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Michigan Sustainable Winegrape Program

The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, contracted with 5 Lakes Energy to explore a sustainability program for Michigan’s grape growing and wine industry.  Guided by a steering committee comprised of industry members, university partners and council members, 5 Lakes completed a feasibility study that offers a …

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Michigan lawmakers, utilities attempt to settle value of solar debate

WRITTEN BYAndy Balaskovitz PHOTO BY Solar Decathlon / Creative Commons After a variety of stakeholders — from utilities to environmental groups — spent the past year and a half trying unsuccessfully to reach consensus in Michigan over the value of solar energy, some Republican lawmakers are looking to end that debate themselves. In December 2013, the …

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