Michigan has an energy policy today - one that is working well. We don't need the changes that our two utilities would force on our state, which will immediately raise prices and lead to less reliability.

In 2000, Michigan introduced competition to our electric system. Since then our electric rates have gone from above the national average to below the national average, and we've seen the addition of 4,000 megawatts of new generation to the state. We've lowered prices and increased reliability. Businesses and schools, in particular, around the state have dropped their electric bills substantially.

August 29, 2008

Many utilities are once again in a position to invest in new power plants. But will regulatory impediments and community concerns stifle those efforts?

The skepticism is healthy. Rosy projections more than a decade ago prompted regulators to ease restraints and lenders to loosen their standards. As a result, many power companies overreached and hurt their backers in the process, but the industry is again warning of an impending generation shortage.

Tuesday, 26 August 2008

The Michigan Public Service Commission Tuesday issued an order approving $12,499,757 in Michigan energy efficiency grants for all customer classes to 16 organizations for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

"The grants awarded today will help the state promote and advance the development and application of energy efficient technologies," said MPSC chairman Orjiakor Isiogu.

On April 10, the MPSC issued a request for proposals for Michigan energy efficiency grants for all customer classes with three distinct focuses: energy efficient technology programs; compact fluorescent lamp programs; and green community programs. Based on its review, the MPSC awarded the following grants:

August 27, 2008

Summer days will soon give way to brisk autumn nights. But the nation cannot forget the often oppressive heat and the subsequent strains it places on utility systems.

Five years ago the country suffered its worst blackout ever. A sagging transmission line in Ohio disrupted and then rapidly tripped off the power in large swaths of Midwest, Northeast and parts of Canada. All told, 50 million people went without electricity and some for many days. With the collective economic toll in the billions, national policymakers set out to minimize the possibility of such an occurrence ever again.

Source: Light Search
Craig DiLouie, Editor
Posted August 4, 2008

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International and the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) recently announced a ground-breaking new BOMA Energy Performance Contract Model to allow building owners to perform major energy retrofits to the existing building marketplace by removing key barriers and providing a turnkey solution.