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Michigan Should Strengthen its Successful Energy Efficiency Policy

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  Yet remarkably, Michigan’s energy optimization may be repealed.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 …

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Disruptive and Radical Energy Ideas Run Rampant at 2015 ARPA-E Summit

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 …

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Can individuals and communities generate Michigan’s electricity in the future?

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 …

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MI Sustainable Winegrowing Trip – Day 2

Sacramento was clouded in fog this morning. Typical to form that fog, which helps makes growing conditions ideal in Sonoma and Napa, receded by the time we arrived in Sonoma. Our meetings today revealed two keys insights; sustainable wine production, whether organic, biodynamic, or sustainable can improve farm practices, and that wineries’ commitment to holistic farming and …

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MI Sustainable Winegrowing Trip – Day 1

In our first day of meetings in California, our group was fortunate enough to absorb the perspective of individuals and organizations that have helped shaped sustainable winegrape growing throughout California. It became evident that public private partnerships, research and education, and integration of sustainability into business strategy have played a large role in the success …

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Michigan Sustainable Wine Goes Fact Finding

Through a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant, the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council (MGWIC) has undertaken the Michigan Sustainable Wine Feasibility study, which is a significant step toward understand the long term social, environmental, and economic vitality of Michigan’s wineries and vineyards. The project will develop a deeper understanding of the wine industry’s relationship …

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Energy Phase Change:  In One Week – 3 Market Signals that the Clean Energy Transition has Arrived

“Those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” John F. Kennedy If further proof is needed that the global transition to clean energy is underway, one need only to look at the events reported in the last week.  A phase change is underway in how we generate, procure, …

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Michigan Sustainable Wines: Southwest MI Roundtable

We want to know what you think! February 12th, 9 AM- Southwest Michigan Research and Education Center 5 Lakes Energy will hold a roundtable discussion and presentation on February 12th at 9:00 AM at the Southwest Michigan Research and Education Center. The session will cover initial survey results, ask attendees further questions, and answer questions …

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Wind Works in Michigan

The wind industry has come a long way in Michigan and in the nation. From the passage of a comprehensive energy statute in 2008 that included Michigan’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, costs have dropped so that wind is now the cheapest generation option, and one of the cheapest additions to the generation fleet even without the federal …

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