Jamie Scripps started college as a foreign language major, so it makes sense that much of her work with 5 Lakes Energy includes decoding and simplifying the language around clean energy. She’s committed to helping the public participate in the decision-making processes that affect the future of energy in this country, and she does that by interpreting the technical information and political proceedings that provide need-to-know information but are often difficult to access and understand.
“Members of the 5 Lakes Energy team were in the thick of it when the clean energy economy took off in Michigan, and in the years since, we’ve been building and sharing expertise to move closer to a cleaner and more sustainable power system for our state,” Jamie says from her home in Northport, at the tip of Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula. “We help consumers wrap their arms around methods for generating and distributing cleaner, healthier power, and work with our governmental leaders to encourage the proper balance of increasingly flexible energy resources, such as batteries.”
Before joining 5 Lakes Energy, Jamie taught Spanish to middle school students, practiced environmental law, and worked for the Michigan Environmental Council. She originally joined up with her 5 Lakes colleagues when they served together on Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s energy team.
Jamie loves the walkability and friendliness of Northport. Award-winning wineries and productive cherry and apple orchards are just minutes away, and the picturesque harbor and parks offer plenty of recreational opportunities for their family. She and her husband Dan were delighted to purchase a charming vintage house across the street from Dan’s parents. The house was ideal but needed major work if it was going to keep them warm in the blustery northern Michigan winters.
“It was important to us to make the home more energy efficient right away,” says Jamie, “We wanted to keep our boys comfortable while also keeping our energy bills in check.”
To make the improvements, they applied for and received a low interest loan from the Home Energy Loan Program at Michigan Saves, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making energy improvements easier for consumers. With the affordable loan in hand, they were able to install efficient new windows, add insulation to the attic and basement, and convert a former garage to a play space for their sons by adding insulated flooring. In the months since, their energy use has dropped significantly and the house is more comfortable in both winter and summer, which helps the Scripps family make the most of life in northwest Michigan year-round.
Jamie and Dan believe in the value of public service. It’s a consistent thread that runs through both their work, family life and volunteer activities. Dan is recognized as a clean energy leader in his own right and served a term as state representative for Michigan’s 101st district in 2009-2010. Both Jamie and Dan were recognized as 2016 Midwest Energy News “40 under 40” award recipients. From her efforts to advance clean energy with 5 Lakes to her dedication to seek energy efficiency in her own home, Jamie is a dedicated leader, educator, and community member.
