Publications

Dan Ebert joined 5 Lakes Energy (5LE) as a partner in January 2024 to strengthen our leadership team and expand our impact in the Great Lakes region on climate and clean energy issues. Along with his 30 years of experience in policy development, advocacy, communications, coalition leadership, and fundraising, Dan brings to 5LE his keen insights, …

5LE Strengthens its leadership and expands our impact with the Addition of Dan Ebert Read More »

5 Lakes Energy is looking for flexible and self-motivated interns at the advanced undergraduate or graduate level interested in climate and energy policy. 5LE’s work is rooted in quantitative analysis, and applicants should expect that most projects will require some degree of technical analysis, with Excel as our primary analytical tool.  This year, 5LE is …

5LE Seeks Summer Interns Read More »

5LE clients and leaders were on hand in Detroit on Tuesday, November 28 when Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bills to accelerate Michigan’s transition to a clean energy economy and move the state towards its goal of 100% economy-wide decarbonization by 2050. In recent weeks, as the State Legislature debated the measures, 5LE Managing Partner Douglas Jester shared …

5LE Celebrates Signing of Michigan Clean-Energy Reforms Read More »

5LE is proud to welcome Elizabeth Boatman to our team. A published scholar with a doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley, Boatman will equip 5LE with deep expertise in the principles of manufacturing, materials, and mechanical engineering. She also brings significant experience in science policy and scientific, strategic, and executive communications to our firm. …

5LE Strengthens its Industrial Decarbonization Expertise with Addition of Elizabeth Boatman Read More »

In a news story aired Monday, November 13 on the Lansing area’s WLNS, 5LE Senior Consultant Rick Bunch, who also directs the Michigan Municipal Association for Utility Issues or MI-MAUI, criticized utility company practices of charging hefty and “unnecessary” upfront deposits to energy customers who can least afford it. While the story focused on the …

5LE Senior Consultant Rick Bunch takes on costly, unfair utility deposit practices Read More »

5 Lakes Energy and the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council are proud to share the Michigan Clean Energy Framework — a landmark report prepared for the Evergreen Collaborative, with the support and advice of the Rocky Mountain Institute. This report analyzes the economic implications of the policy options to decarbonize Michigan’s economy and cut emissions.

Municipal Street Lighting: Ten Tips for Local Governments Street lighting is often a local government’s biggest energy expenditure and the most widespread and visible service that local governments provide. Many local governments pay too much for street lighting and get bad service because investor-owned utilities control their streetlights. Information is power, however, and knowing what …

Municipal Street Lighting: 10 Tips for Local Governments by Rick Bunch Read More »

A new report for the Council of the Great Lakes Region, prepared by 5 Lakes Partner Douglas Jester and co-founder Skip Pruss, analyzes the opportunities of the clean energy transition available to the two Canadian provinces and eight US states in the region. The report includes recommendations for actions, commitments and collaborations to achieve full …

Powering Forward: Accelerating the Binational Great Lakes Region’s Clean Energy Transition Read More »