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…
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…
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…
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…
http:/wmuk.org/post/michigan-wine-industry-grows-state-council-looks-towards-sustainability
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…
March 9, 2015 Dear Senator Nofs, Representative Nesbitt, and Members of the Michigan Senate Energy and Technology Committee and Michigan House Energy Policy Committee: We, the undersigned employers and trade associations – representing thousands of jobs within this state – strongly oppose any effort to eliminate Michigan’s successful and cost-effective Energy Optimization…
As the legislature and Governor’s office in Lansing consider changes to Michigan’s energy policy, there is one area upon which there should be consensus: the current extremely successful “Energy Optimization” policy for utility energy efficiency programs should be reinforced and expanded. Yet remarkably, Michigan’s energy optimization may be repealed. The data on Michigan’s current PA…
The sixth ARPA-E (Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy) summit occurred this last week. This annual event in Washington, D.C. showcases a host of disruptive (and at times, radical) energy ideas that will help create future energy technologies. The goal of ARPA-E grant funding is to accelerate changes in the way America generates, uses, and stores energy. Bringing…
http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/distributedenergyinMichigan0375.aspx NINA IGNACZAK | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2015 Two visions are competing for Michigan’s energy future. In the first, utilities continue, as they have for the past century, to generate power at central facilities and sell it to consumers. In the second, local communities and individuals generate power for themselves. The first vision looks…