JANUARY 29, 2008

NEWARK NJ - The New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability ("NJHEPS") has signed Partners GREEN "Letter to President Obama" concerning "Onsite Renewable Energy, Efficiencies and Education at Our Nation's Schools and endorses the Project EverGREEN Schools® program.

Partners GREEN launched a petition that seeks a national energy policy consistent with President Obama's plan for renewable energy and education at our nation's schools.  Partners GREEN has asked all parties to sign on to its "Letter to President Obama" before delivering the letter on February 26, 2009.

Michigan GREEN would like to congratulate all the honorees of the Corp! Magazine 'Michigan's Going Green Awards'.  The award breakfast was held on January 27, 2009 at the MSU Managment Education Center in Troy, MI.  The event included a panel discussion of shared insights on economic success, best practices and exploration of economic trends.

January 21, 2009

For more than 60 years, Coffman Electrical Equipment Co. in Grand Rapids has been selling back-up generators and related commercial electrical equipment. In just a few years, it has moved into a forward role in the emergency- and alternative-energy markets by building manufacturing alliances.

The privately held company hired Greg Mulder 10 years ago to find new markets. He leaped into alternative-energy efforts at the state and national level. He found companies with which to collaborate and projects that suit Coffman Electrical's capabilities and growth plans.

The "National Strategy for Homeland Security" issued in July, 2002 identifies eight major initiatives including the development of a "National Infrastructure Protection Plan". 

A report issued in February, 2003 "National Strategy for the Physical Protection of Critical Infrastructures and Key Assets" addresses electricity sector challenges.  The report stresses the import of building a less vulnerable grid as a means of protecting our Nation's electric infrastructure.  Department of Homeland Security "HMS" spoke to the necessity of the electricity sector to "Develop Strategies to Reduce Vulnerabilities."

Section 1817 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 "EPACT" called for the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study of the potential benefits of cogeneration and small power production, otherwise known as Distributed Generation or "DG", which applies to energy systems that produce electricity at or near the point of use such as a Net Metering System.  The results of that study "The Potential Benefits of Distributed Generation and Rate-Related Issues that May Impede Their Expansion" was released in February, 2007.  Specific areas of potential benefits studied included reduction in vulnerability to terrorism and improvements in infrastructure resilience. 

Michigan GREEN and Educational leaders throughout Michigan are challenging state officials on Senate Bill No. 213 that allows utility companies to charge additional costs to schools and other institutions for generating their own renewable energy.