Blog – Page 8 – 5LakesEnergy

http://www.mlui.org/energy/news-views/news-views-articles/time-for-lansing-to-catch-not-ignore-the-new-tech-energy-wave.html#.VSU6EPnF-So Employing new grid technologies can weave together renewable and storage energy sources large and small, reducing the need to build additional old-fashioned,centralized, fossil-fueled plants. (Graphic: Powertown) Now that Governor Rick Snyder, state Senate and House Republicans, and Democrats in both chambers have each outlined their proposed next steps for Michigan’s energy future, it’s time…

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Wind gets cheaper, but energy for building turbines wanes

Press, UncategorizedBy Admin April 8, 2015

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…

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Summer Preview: Fuel Efficiency for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks

Blog, UncategorizedBy Admin April 6, 2015

The Obama administration is planning new fuel efficiency and carbon emission standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Later this summer, the EPA and NHTSA are expected to issue draft rules covering medium- and heavy-duty trucks and vans, vocational vehicles, and trailers sold after 2018. These new rules will save consumers and businesses money at the…

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CHP Interest Heating Up in Michigan

Blog, Insights, UncategorizedBy Admin April 2, 2015

As Michigan policymakers consider implementing a robust integrated resource planning (IRP) process for forecasting energy supply and demand – or an integrated distribution planning (IDP) process that recognizes the accelerating deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) and the economic benefits of demand-side energy efficiency programs (more on this from 5 Lakes Energy coming soon), attention…

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

Press, UncategorizedBy Admin March 24, 2015

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…

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Crafting responsible wines

Press, UncategorizedBy Admin March 24, 2015

http://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/crafting-responsible-wines/article_1dbdb6c4-a688-5768-8ced-716c1c677b7e.html BY CAROL THOMPSON cthompson@record-eagle.com | Posted: Tuesday, March 24, 2015 8:55 am TRAVERSE CITY — A soft mechanical whirr fills the air at Shady Lane Cellars’ winery. “Listen,” said Adam Satchwell, Shady Lane winemaker and general manager. “What you hear? That’s energy.” Satchwell leans against a wine barrel inside the winery. He faces a row…

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Natural gas or renewables? New model helps states decide

Blog, Press, UncategorizedBy Admin March 23, 2015

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…

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Michigan and the Clean Power Plan: Clarifying the Compliance Options

Blog, Publications, UncategorizedBy Admin March 13, 2015

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, pursuant to the Clean Power Plan, is currently developing a rule that would require each state to reduce carbon emissions from existing fossil-fueled power plants to a state-specific rate that will be established in the final rule. EPA’s stated intent is to give states great flexibility in how they…

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As Michigan Wine Industry Grows, State Council Looks Towards Sustainability

Press, UncategorizedBy Admin March 11, 2015

http:/wmuk.org/post/michigan-wine-industry-grows-state-council-looks-towards-sustainability

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

Press, UncategorizedBy Admin March 10, 2015

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…

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