ENERGY TIDBITS – October 2008
New Energy Legislation has been enacted in Michigan. SB 213 includes a renewable portfolio standard, utility energy optimization plans, state government energy efficiency, wind energy resource zones, and net metering. The renewable portfolio standard will be 10% by 2015. Energy optimization credits and advanced cleaner energy credits can be used to partially meet the RPS requirement. Detroit Edison is required to have at least 300 MW by 2013 and 600 MW by 2015 and Consumers Energy is required to have 200 MW by 2013 and 500 MW by 2015.
SB 1048 includes a 10% state tax credit for a “principal residence” for insulation, furnaces, water heaters, windows, refrigerators, clothes washers, and dishwashers for the years 2009, 2010, and 2011. There are income requirements: adjusted gross income equal to or less than $37,500 for an individual and $75,000 for a couple and tax credit ceilings: $75 for an individual and $150 for a couple.
HB 5524 changes utility regulation. The law includes a certificate of neces
sity process for electric utilities and requires utilities requesting certificates to prepare integrated resource plans. Legislation can be found at www.legislature.michigan.gov. Search by bill number.
Michigan’s Two Newest Wind Turbines, 2.5 MW Fuhrlander’s, have been installed near Cadillac at the Stoney Corners wind farm. The turbines are 100 meters to the hub and are now our biggest wind turbines. Heritage Sustainable Energy is the developer.
2009 Energy Star Home Grants for Builders applications are now available at www.michigan.gov/energyoffice. Financial incentives are available to five builders constructing Energy Star rated homes. The houses must be built by August 30, 2009. It is expected that five grants will be awarded for $5,000. A total of $25,000 is available for the program.
Fifth U.S. Conference on Peak Oil & Community Solutions will be held on Oct 31-Nov 2 at Oakland University, in partnership with Community Solutions & Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center. Conference participants will explore strategies for reducing energy use in the areas of housing, food and transportation, including both theory and practice. http://www.plancconference.org/
Holiday Inn Express - Ludington has earned Green Lodging Michigan Partner certification. Holiday Inn Express – Ludington has implemented several environmental initiatives such as installing Energy Star exit signs, using low VOC cleaning products, and offering a towel and linen reuse program to guests. Holiday I
nn Express also purchases in bulk and avoids single-serve packaging for food, while giving preference to local products. “The trend toward green initiatives in lodging prompted us to take a deeper look into our hotel operations, expand on programs we already had in place, and implement new programs to lessen our impact on the environment," said John Merchant, director of sales and marketing. "Green Lodging Michigan made it easy for us to evaluate our operations, locate areas for improvement, and earn our partner level status.” http://www.stayludington.com/
Michigan Sustainable Homes and Business Tour will be Saturday, October 4 from 10a.m. - 4p.m. Check out local tours at www.glrea.org.
Michigan Strategic Fund has approved alternative energy partnerships in Ann Arbor, Flint and the Upper Peninsula's Kinross as the state’s first Centers of Energy Excellence. The program, proposed by Gov. Granholm in her State of the State address in January and signed into law this summer, is designed to bring companies, academic institutions and the state together to support cutting-edge research and development and pioneer new alternative-energy technology. The new Centers of Energy Excellence are 1) Sakti3 in Ann Arbor will receive $3 million to establish a center focused on next-generation lithium battery technologies and processes. The University of Michigan will contribute research on battery lifecycles. 2) Swedish Biogas International will use $4 million to launch a waste-to-energy biomethane center at Flint
s waste water treatment facility. Kettering University’s incubator will also serve as the initial headquarters for the Swedish company’s North American subsidiary. 3) Mascoma Corp. will use $20 million to establish a cellulosic ethanol center in Kinross. Michigan State and Michigan Tech will focus on improving the supply chain for woody biomass feedstock. www.michiganadvantage.org/21CJF.
12th Annual Sustainable Business Conference of Michigan, Energizing Michigan’s Green Future will be held on November 13, 7:30-4:15 at the Fetzer Center, WMU. The conference focuses on Michigan’s business and energy future, and will bring together sustainable businesses, college students, and advocacy groups. http://www.southwestmichigansustainablebusinessforum.org/
Green Building Consulting Blog has been started by the WARM Training Center in Detroit. WARM has lined up green experts and bloggers can learn from each other. www.warmtraining.org
Michigan Energy Overview report explores the state's energy resources and shows energy use by source, sector and how consumption has grown over time. It also shows how much Michigan residents and businesses spend on energy which in 2007 totaled approximately $37 billion.
http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/reports/energy/energyoverview/
DTE Energy Efficiency Forums will go thru November. Experts, suppliers, & installers will provide advice on energy use. http://my.dteenergy.com/products/energySeminars/energyEfficiency.html
Green School Designation has been achieved by=2
0200 schools in Michigan through a state-run certification program. Based on a 2006 law, Michigan schools can earn a Green School designation by meeting 10 goals out of a list of 25 activities. They can be simple changes such as recycling water bottles, print cartridges and paper products; educational activities like adopting an endangered species; or bigger changes like constructing LEED-certified, energy-saving buildings.
Michigan Interfaith Power & Light Fall Conference 2008 will be held on October 15, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM at Transformations Spirituality Center in Nazareth. http://www.miipl.org/conference_2008.html
Oakland University has entered into a two-year sponsored research agreement with Octillion Corp. to fund development of photovoltaic window technology. Octillion is funding research to perfect a new “transparent photovoltaic” technology, allowing the company to market a solar energy cell that allows 50-60% of visible light to pass through.
Remodel Green 08 will bring together builders, architects, designers, homeowners, suppliers and community leaders who share excitement about green building. The event will be held at Eastern Michigan University’s new Student Center on Oct 31 & Nov 1. http://www.remodelgreen.org/
Michigan Energy Appraisal: Winter 2008/2009 has been released by the MPSC. Residential natural gas prices are projected to be 21% higher than last winter. www.michigan.gov/mpsc
$11 million is what the University of Michigan hopes
to save in energy costs in the next three years as part of its Planet Blue program. Five buildings were targeted in the program's pilot phase. Thirty more structures are in line for an energy audit within the next year, 30 the following year and 30 more the year after that. http://planetblue.umich.edu/
Seven Consumer Forums will be held by the MPSC to give consumers the latest information on electric and natural gas rates. First forum will be in Detroit on Oct 2. www.michigan.gov/mpsc
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