In the coming year, nine of Michigan’s coal-fired power plants are scheduled to retire. That has environmentalists and renewable energy advocates cheering. And the state’s two major utilities, Consumer’s Energy and DTE, say they are ready to invest in a more sustainable energy future. But first, the companies say, Michigan has to return to a fully regulated electricity market.
Some environmentalists and consumer advocacy groups say the threats of energy shortages under a deregulated system are overblown.
Current State speaks with Skip Pruss, a principal consultant at 5 Lakes Energy, a non-partisan consulting group.
This segment is supported by Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism. More news about the Great Lakes environment can be found at GreatLakesEcho.org and on Current State every Tuesday as part of our partnership.
http://wkar.org/post/energy-analyst-mi-electricity-debate-needs-re-focusing