Energy

State’s move toward clean energy picks up steam

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By BROOKE KANSIER
Capital News Service
LANSING – As Michigan utility companies near a state deadline for generating more power from renewable sources with wide success, a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard could push the state toward clean energy at an even faster pace. In August, the EPA announced the Clean Power Plan (CPP), a blueprint for cutting nearly a third of carbon emissions from power plants by 2030. Power plants are the nation’s biggest single contributor to carbon emissions, producing 31 percent, according to the EPA. “The clean power plan is going to drive a major transformation in how we produce energy in the state, throughout the Midwest and really, throughout the country,” said John Austerberry, communications manager for DTE Energy Co., one of Michigan’s largest energy providers. The CPP gives states 15 years to meet emission reduction requirements and will set goals and checkpoints to guide states along the way.

Business & Economy

Are robot cars good for the environment?

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By BROOKE KANSIER
Capital News Service
LANSING — Cars that drive themselves may be safer, smarter and more efficient than those driven by people. But will they be better for the environment? It’s a question with no definitive answer, said John DeCicco, a research professor at the University of Michigan’s Energy Institute and a board member of the university’s MCity – an entire city for the testing of the vehicles, complete with cutouts of pedestrians and stoplights. Some aspects of the vehicles could greatly reduce energy use and emissions, while other aspects could increase emissions, said DeCicco. Driving efficiency improves greatly with an autonomous infrastructure.

Energy

Energy policy debate is missing the point, advocates say

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By CAITLIN McARTHUR
Capital News Service
LANSING — Debate over Michigan’s future energy policy continues with proposals aimed at cheap, reliable energy. But environmental advocates say legislators are missing the bigger picture. Climate change has yet to be discussed at any great length, said Mike Berkowitz, the legislative and policy director for the Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter. Some of the proposed policies are “a true climate disaster” in light of 97 percent of climate scientists agreeing that change is happening and people are driving it through the carbon emissions created largely by burning fossil fuels. Climate change has major implications for public health, Berkowitz said.

Business & Economy

Michigan’s energy policy up for grabs

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By CAITLIN McARTHUR
Capital News Service
LANSING — Michigan’s future in clean energy is up for debate, with 2008 mandates set to expire, widely divergent proposals from government leaders, and environmental groups worried the state could turn back toward fossil fuels. Michigan’s Democrats are proud of the state’s success in shifting to 10 percent renewable energy over the past seven years. They want to increase the renewable goal to 20 percent. Republican legislators are concerned about Michigan’s energy capacity with federal mandates set to shut down a number of coal-fired electrical plants in the coming years. They want to maintain the 10 percent renewable energy requirement and reduce restrictions on meeting state energy goals.

Environment

Pipeline company can intervene in Sierra Club lawsuit, judge says

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By LOGAN CLARK
Capital News Service
LANSING – Enbridge Inc. can now defend its interests in a Sierra Club lawsuit claiming the U.S. Forest Service failed to adequately review a permit for the company’s oil pipeline stretching below the Straits of Mackinac. A federal judge has allowed Enbridge to intervene in the lawsuit over the pipeline known as Line 5. It runs from northern Wisconsin through the Upper Peninsula, south across the Straits of Mackinac separating the UP and Lower Peninsula, and then into Canada at Sarnia.. It’s part of Enbridge’s Lakehead System that brings petroleum from northwestern Canada to southern Ontario through the Great Lakes states. The pipeline also runs under the Huron-Manistee National Forest in the northern Lower Peninsula.

Education

New college program trains clean energy technicians

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By JORDAN BRADLEY
Capital News Service
LANSING – Alpena Community College is developing a bachelor’s degree in electrical systems technology. Jay Walterreit, director of public information and marketing at Alpena, said the community college is hoping to have the program running by August 2016. The “rigorous” program’s curriculum is awaiting accreditation. Unlike the other energy technician programs available at Alpena, the program will qualify a student with a bachelor’s degree. Walterreit said that there would not be much overlap between existing programs and the new program, except a few prerequisites.

Environment

In choosing energy, every source comes with detractors

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By ERIC FREEDMAN
Capital News Service
LANSING — Hundreds of wind turbines line the high ridges along both sides of Interstate 80 in western Iowa, the state that leads the nation in corn-based ethanol production. Iowa is also the state that gets the highest proportion of its electricity – about 25 percent – from wind, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Michigan has about 675 operating wind turbines overall, with the largest wind turbine array in Gratiot County north of Lansing. Construction of Consumers Energy’s 62-turbine Cross Winds Energy Park in Tuscola County began last fall and is scheduled for completion this year. As of now, only 1 percent of the state’s electricity is wind-generated, according to federal figures.

Environment

Counties with wind farms overwhelmingly opposed renewable energy plan

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By ZACHARY PEÑA
Capital News Service
LANSING — Environmental groups are preparing their next move after voters overwhelmingly rejected a constitutional amendment to require 25 percent of the state’s electricity to come from renewable sources. Statewide, more than 62 percent opposed the renewable energy plan, based on unofficial returns collected by the Secretary of State. The only county where it passed was Washtenaw, where nearly 52 percent voted yes. Three of the four counties with the greatest percentage of voters rejecting the proposals have wind farms: Missaukee (79 percent), Huron (77.5 percent) and Osceola (74 percent). John Sarver, executive director of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, gave two theories for the Election Day failure.

Business & Economy

New legislation would allow out-of-state competition in the state energy market

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By SAODAT ASANOVA-TAYLOR
Capital News Service
LANSING – Should Michigan allow more out-of-state energy companies to enter its energy market? While some lawmakers agree that it’s necessary to provide alternative choices for customers, industry groups counter that it might jeopardize Michigan’s ability to generate sufficient power in the future. The legislation would overturn the current 10 percent ceiling on the energy market served by out-of-state utilities. A 2008 law that replaced competition with government-controlled rate setting caps electric competition at 10 percent. Rep. Mike Shirkey, R–Clarklake, the primary sponsor of the bill, said one of the fastest-growing expenses for Michigan is energy, and the state must eliminate obstacles to fair competition.

Environment

New trade group predicts boom in new energy

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By XINJUAN DENG
Capital News Service
LANSING — Global, national and state-level demand for advanced energy storage and more biomass, solar and wind power will grow significantly by 2015, according to the Energy Innovation Business Council. A council study points out the “new energy” sector has a potential annual average impact of $4.9 billion in Michigan, including 20,791 jobs supported and $163.7 million in local and state tax revenues. The council is a new trade group focused on expanding Michigan’s advanced energy industry. “It is the state’s first trade association for advanced energy manufacturing and energy efficiency businesses,” said President Ed Clemente. The council’s economic impact report predicts a potential global market for some renewable energy products, including electric vehicles.