DETROIT ? More than a dozen of the 41 new vehicles launched during the press preview of the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit were hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric or all-electric vehicles. But last year, only 20,000 full-electric or plug-in electric hybrids were sold in the United States, including 9,674 Nissan Leafs and
ANN ARBOR - Meadowlark Builders has moved to a historic building in Ann Arbor as a proof of concept that a building can not only make more energy that it uses, but also become a living building that restores the environment around it. The original building, formerly occupied by Washtenaw Engineering, was an old schoolhouse
DETROIT ? NextEnergy announced that Paul F. Skalny, recently retired from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, has joined the company's Board of Directors. Skalny recently retired from TARDEC, where he held numerous leadership roles over the course of 25 years. His tenure for the Army spanned more than 32 years and
LANSING ? Michigan companies that pre-pay state gas sales tax will get a break beginning March 1, as the new rate the state will charge for bulk purchases of fuel takes effect. The Department of Treasury earlier this month issued Revenue Administrative Bulletin 2012-1 setting a change from the prepaid sales tax rate from the
DETROIT ? NextEnergy announced Tuesday that Kenneth Lundberg has joined the alternative energy group as vice president, finance and administration and chief financial officer. Lundberg?s key responsibilities will be to manage approval and maintenance of accounting systems; maintain relationships with financial institutions, and control banking operations, investment portfolio and related activities; manage insurance coverage; and
ANN ARBOR ? February's Michigan Energy Forum event, Financing Your Commercial Energy Project, will focus on highlighting an array of financial mechanisms that exist to help commercial building owners make their energy efficiency and/or renewable energy project a reality. Event Details: SPARK Central, 330 East Liberty, Ann Arbor Date: 2/2/2012 Time: 5 - 7 PM
WHITMORE LAKE ? RheTech has expanded its RheVision biocomposites product line to include agave fiber and coconut fiber. These new biofibers, including RheVision's existing offering of wood fiber, rice hull and flax fiber reinforced polyolefin, are helping RheTech meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly materials that meet the performance characteristics of its customers. ?We
LANSING ? The Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced Thursday that the City of Detroit has won a $400,000 Advanced Lighting Technology Demonstration grant to upgrade street lights in six areas of the city. ?The State of Michigan is pleased to partner with the City of Detroit and DTE Energy to replace aging and inefficient lighting
LANSING - Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has been linked to a variety of environmental problems around the country, but industry officials said a combination of the state's geography and its regulations would prevent those incidents in Michigan. Though the issue has become a hot button for environmentalists in recent months, Michigan has had wells that
OAK PARK - Azure Dynamics Corp. announced that it has delivered its 1,000th Balance Hybrid Electric Truck to Purolator, Azure's largest customer. This unit also represents Purolator's 200th Hybrid Electric truck received in 2011, which is part of its previous record 600 unit order providing for 200 units being delivered in 2011 with an additional