michigan

Wind gets cheaper, but energy for building turbines wanes

http://interlochenpublicradio.org/post/wind-gets-cheaper-energy-building-turbines-wanes By PETER PAYETTE  Michigan has a number of wind farms because the state basically made them mandatory in 2008. That was when lawmakers decided a certain amount of our electricity must come from renewable resources, and utilities built wind turbines to comply. Now, wind energy is, by some measurements, among the cheapest ways to …

Wind gets cheaper, but energy for building turbines wanes Read More »

Natural Gas? Wind? Solar? New Tool Helps Michigan Choose Best Energy Options

http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2015-03-24/energy-policy/natural-gas-wind-solar-new-tool-helps-michigan-choose-best-energy-options/a45276-1   March 24, 2015 LANSING, Mich. – It’s not a crystal ball, but a group of researchers say a new tool can help Michigan and other states grapple with predicting and planning for the most cost-effective and least risky ways to cut back on coal. Douglas Jester with the consulting group Five Lakes Energy …

Natural Gas? Wind? Solar? New Tool Helps Michigan Choose Best Energy Options Read More »

Natural gas or renewables? New model helps states decide

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2015/03/23/natural-gas-or-renewables-new-model-helps-states-decide/ Posted on 03/23/2015 by Andy Balaskovitz Shifting natural gas prices are making it a challenge for states to place their bets on the most cost-effective and least risky ways to comply with impending carbon regulations. Those prices could likely determine whether it makes sense to replace retiring coal generation with natural gas or renewable …

Natural gas or renewables? New model helps states decide Read More »

Michigan town has ‘NEAT’ idea to go 100 percent renewable

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2015/03/09/michigan-town-has-neat-idea-to-go-100-percent-renewable/ Posted on 03/09/2015 by Jeff Kart Ten percent of Michigan’s power will come from renewable sources by the end of this year. For a small community in the western tip of the state’s lower peninsula, though, that’s not enough. A group of residents in Leelanau Township, which includes the village of Northport, are finalizing …

Michigan town has ‘NEAT’ idea to go 100 percent renewable Read More »

81 Businesses Support Energy Optimization Programs in Michigan

  March 9, 2015   Dear Senator Nofs, Representative Nesbitt, and Members of the Michigan Senate Energy and Technology Committee and Michigan House Energy Policy Committee:   We, the undersigned employers and trade associations – representing thousands of jobs within this state – strongly oppose any effort to eliminate Michigan’s successful and cost-effective Energy Optimization …

81 Businesses Support Energy Optimization Programs in Michigan Read More »

Can individuals and communities generate Michigan’s electricity in the future?

http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/distributedenergyinMichigan0375.aspx   NINA IGNACZAK | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 Two visions are competing for Michigan’s energy future. In the first, utilities continue, as they have for the past century, to generate power at central facilities and sell it to consumers. In the second, local communities and individuals generate power for themselves. The first vision looks …

Can individuals and communities generate Michigan’s electricity in the future? Read More »

Energy Phase Change:  In One Week – 3 Market Signals that the Clean Energy Transition has Arrived

“Those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” John F. Kennedy If further proof is needed that the global transition to clean energy is underway, one need only to look at the events reported in the last week.  A phase change is underway in how we generate, procure, …

Energy Phase Change:  In One Week – 3 Market Signals that the Clean Energy Transition has Arrived Read More »

Michigan Sustainable Wines: Southwest MI Roundtable

We want to know what you think! February 12th, 9 AM- Southwest Michigan Research and Education Center 5 Lakes Energy will hold a roundtable discussion and presentation on February 12th at 9:00 AM at the Southwest Michigan Research and Education Center. The session will cover initial survey results, ask attendees further questions, and answer questions …

Michigan Sustainable Wines: Southwest MI Roundtable Read More »

Wind Works in Michigan

The wind industry has come a long way in Michigan and in the nation. From the passage of a comprehensive energy statute in 2008 that included Michigan’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, costs have dropped so that wind is now the cheapest generation option, and one of the cheapest additions to the generation fleet even without the federal …

Wind Works in Michigan Read More »

Michigan Energy Policy: Looking backward and looking forward.

2015 will be a watershed year for energy policy in Michigan – and few states will be watched as carefully by energy policy experts and interested observers.  The expiration of Michigan’s “10 x 2015” renewable energy mandate is framed by accelerating changes in energy markets, new federal regulatory requirements, the proliferation of disruptive new technologies …

Michigan Energy Policy: Looking backward and looking forward. Read More »