Sustainability Issues and Solutions for the Michigan Wine Industry
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WineAmerica 2015 National Grape and Wine Policy Conference
Last week WineAmerica held the 2015 National Grape and Wine Policy Conference in Washington, DC. The conference consisted of visits to Capitol Hill to meet with Representatives and informational panels. The panel presentations covered major legislative issues related to the United States wine industry with presentations from members of Congress, their staff, industry members, and…
DetailsEnergy optimization and efficiency are vital to more secure, reliable energy future for Michigan
on April 08, 2015 at 2:37 PM, updated April 08, 2015 at 2:53 PM by Hannah Watts “There was a lot to like in his message,” Skip Pruss tells Kirk Heinze on Greening of the Great Lakes. “He set the bar high and indicated that Michigan should meet 30 to 40 percent of its future energy needs through renewable…
DetailsTime for Lansing to Catch, Not Ignore, the New-Tech Energy Wave
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…
DetailsWind 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…
DetailsSummer Preview: Fuel Efficiency for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Trucks
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…
DetailsCHP Interest Heating Up in Michigan
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…
DetailsNatural 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…
DetailsCrafting responsible wines
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…
DetailsNatural 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…
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