WASHINGTON DC - The Great Lakes Compact is one step away from final ratification after the U.S. House voted Tuesday to approve the agreement between the eight Great Lakes states to limit water withdrawals. The measure did not move on without objection. U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) had asked the chamber to hold off its
LANSING - The new energy package has not yet been signed, but the Public Service Commission began its work Tuesday to implement the measures. The commission issued orders Tuesday seeking comment on the provisions of HB 5524 that require deskewing of electric rates (case No. U-15244) and that require implementation of a special rate for
KALAMAZOO - Kalamazoo Valley Community College's version of Odyssey Day 2008 will go beyond the focus on hybrid vehicles and alternative fuels to showcase the college's initiatives into educating the public and training technicians in the emerging field of renewable sources of energy. The celebration is scheduled for Oct. 4, from 9 a.m. to 4
NOVI - ITC Holdings Corp. applauds the announcement of the Upper Midwest Transmission Development Initiative, the five-state effort to encourage regional electric transmission development. "There is a critical need for further electric transmission development in the Upper Midwest if we want to harvest the region's strong wind energy potential," said Joseph L. Welch, chairman, president
LANSING - State-backed loans to farms would be separated from the grant program for horse racing under legislation approved Thursday by the Senate Agriculture Committee. The panel also approved a new fund to support alternative fuel research through an income tax checkoff. The state already has a guaranteed loan program for farms, but under SB
LANSING - Final agreements, though not final bill drafts, appeared in place late Monday to allow the Michigan energy package to move on to Governor Jennifer Granholm this week. Both Rep. Frank Accavitti Jr. (D-Eastpointe), chair of the conference committee on HB 5524 , and Sen. Patricia Birkholz (R-Saugatuck Twp.), chair of the conference committee
LANSING - A vote on legislation to at least create a new renewable energy portfolio for Michigan before the end of the week is the goal of at least one conference committee chair as lawmakers draw closer to acting on an energy package. The latest drafts of SB 213 and HB 5524 were distributed on
ANN ARBOR - DTE Energy and the University of Michigan are challenging teams from Michigan colleges and universities to develop the best business plans for bringing new clean energy technologies to market. The teams with winning ideas will share $100,000 in prize money, to be awarded in the spring of 2009 to help move clean
DEWITT - The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and AHL-TECH, the creators of an alternative-fuel hybrid locomotive, will be attending the Clean Transportation Expo and Awards Gala September 24 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi. Presenters of some of the most cutting-edge transportation innovations will be available to answer questions about their projects and
LANSING - Michigan officials participating and observing in the ongoing discussions on a utility regulation and energy package are expecting to shortly see a new substitute on SB 213 that would set the amount of the energy the state would see developed by renewal resources. Sen. Patty Birkholz (R-Saugatuck Twp.) could not be reached for