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

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…

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

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…

New Report from Citizens Utility Board: Electric Utility Performance – Ranking Michigan Amongst the States (2019)

There’s a new report out from the Citizens Utility Board of Michigan, prepared by 5 Lakes Energy LLC, that provides a scorecard measuring the aggregate performance of Michigan’s electric utilities in the areas of reliability, affordability and management of environmental impacts in comparison to the aggregate performance of the other 49 states and the District of…

New Report: Powering the Mobility Revolution

The Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI) recently unveiled its report, Powering the Mobility Revolution: The Case for Integrating Vehicle Electrification & Batteries into Strategies to Promote Autonomous Vehicles. “Self-driving vehicles are the next big step for the transportation industry, and the mobility industry is increasingly based on electric vehicle technology,” said IEI president and 5 Lakes…

5 Lakes Energy “Apples to Apples” Standby Rate Analyses

Minnesota Midwest Cogeneration Association/Fresh Energy November 2016 Comments in MPUC Case No. 15-115 Midwest Cogeneration Association/Fresh Energy August 2016 Comments in MPUC Case No. 15-115   Michigan Midwest Cogeneration Association Comments to Michigan Public Service Commission Standby Rate Working Group Standby Rate Testimony in DTE Rate Case U-18255 Standby Rate Exhibits in DTE Rate Case…

Guidance for Utilities Commissions on Time of Use Rates: A Shared Perspective from Consumer and Clean Energy Advocates

The following paper was co-authored by Douglas Jester, Principal with 5 Lakes Energy. What follows is the text of the introduction and executive summary. To download/view the full paper, please click here. Guidance for Utilities Commissions on Time of Use Rates: A Shared Perspective from Consumer and Clean Energy Advocates Electricity Rate Design Review Paper No. 2…

Michigan Sustainable Winegrape Program

The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, contracted with 5 Lakes Energy to explore a sustainability program for Michigan’s grape growing and wine industry.  Guided by a steering committee comprised of industry members, university partners and council members, 5 Lakes completed a feasibility study that offers a…

Reducing Energy Waste is Least-Cost Option for Implementing Federal Clean Power Plan

Analysis using new Michigan model highlights important role for renewables, cogeneration, natural gas in meeting state targets   [Lansing and Washington, D.C.] – Reducing energy waste, using more renewable energy sources like solar and wind, cogeneration fueled by natural gas and, depending on long-term price projections, an appropriate amount of natural gas-fired combined cycle generation…