DEARBORN - Retired four-star Gen. Wesley Clark will the keynote address at the plug-in electric vehicle conference October 19-21. The conference will explore viable solutions to policies that will enable the commercial introduction of plug-in electric vehicles and economic models for success. The agenda includes sessions focused on infrastructure requirements, battery manufacturing, and vehicle technology
DETROIT - The Wayne State University College of Engineering has named Simon Ng, professor of chemical engineering and materials science and director of the National Biofuels Energy Lab, the college's interim associate dean of research. Ng replaces Mumtaz Usmen, who recently was appointed interim dean of the college. Ng is also the project director of
ANN ARBOR ? A new study says the "greening" of corporate vehicle fleets presents an opportunity to move a substantial number of highly efficient, clean fuel vehicles onto the road in a relatively short timeframe, results that are both environmentally and economically positive. A newly released report by the Sustainable Transportation and Communities group at
LANSING - Gov. Jennifer Granholm Tuesday announced Georgia-based Suniva will invest $250 million in a new solar manufacturing facility in Saginaw County's Thomas Township, creating some 500 new jobs over the next five years �?? if they get an Energy Department loan guarantee recently applied for. "Today we welcome Suniva to our growing list of
LANSING - Unions, businesses and legislators from both parties, including Democratic leaders from both chambers, called on Gov. Jennifer Granholm to step back from her decision requiring new coal-fired electric power plants to show not only that they meet emissions requirements, but that the power they produce will be required. House Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford
KALAMAZOO - Fifteen students are heading for Michigan's Thumb this week to gain a "thumbs-up" acceptance into Kalamazoo Valley Community College's first-of-its-kind-in-the-nation training academy for technicians who will work on utility-sized turbines clustered on wind farms around the world. It's part of a win-win agreement between the KVCC Wind Energy Center and the Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port
LANSING - Do you know what biodegradable plastics, clothing, bedding, and packing material all have in common? They can all be made from corn and were started as research projects funded through Michigan's corn check-off, the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan. Research is an integral part of the CMPM. State farmer dollars invested in corn
LANSING - A slow economy and a massive increase in gasoline prices helped drive an increase in mass transit ridership in 2008, a report from Environment Michigan said. Meanwhile, the Michigan Public Transit Association urged lawmakers not to cut funding for mass transit to help offset revenue losses. According to the report, "Getting On Track,"
Ann Arbor - Meadowlark Builders will feature two remodel projects at the Remodelers Home Tour on October 9-11, including Michigan's second Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design project. The first project is in its first phase of a full remodel/addition. As part of this project, Meadowlark Builders designed long-term goals for the entire house with
LANSING - Though committee members did not overtly oppose, or support, findings that power plants proposed by Consumers Energy and Wolverine Cooperative were not needed, members of the Senate Energy Policy and Public Utilities Committee did question the Public Service Commission staff's ability to forecast power needs. The PSC staff had found that projected demand