Clean, green, hybrid

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Ca. - Search giant Google on Tuesday pledged to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to make renewable energy cheaper than coal. The effort, dubbed RE>

LANSING - On the eve of Consumers Energy getting granted local tax abatements to build a new coal-fired power plant in Bay County, a coalition of environmental groups is trying to persuade Michigan residents and lawmakers that coal should not be part of the mix of new power facilities in the state. The Hampton Township

DETROIT ? Miller Canfield is among the first law firms in the Midwest to assemble an interdisciplinary team dedicated to climate change-related law. Climate change is emerging as a critical policy area around the world, affecting everything from business and industry to consumers and government and regulatory authorities. Earlier this year, President Bush announced the

LANSING - Former Michigan Public Service Commission members Laura Chappelle and David Svanda have joined 36 of their counterparts from across the nation calling on state and federal lawmakers and regulators not to return monopoly control of power markets to the utilities. The letter, noting a number of reports showing customers saving money or power

LANSING - If Michigan lawmakers can beat other Midwest states in the race to approve renewable energy portfolio standards, it can provide the incentive for alternative energy manufacturers to set up shop in the state, bringing up to 35,000 jobs with them, said a report released on Wednesday from the Blue Green Alliance, a partnership

BEIJING, China - Suntech Power Holdings, an aggressive, rising star in the solar world, said in a conference call yesterday that it hopes to build plants in the U.S. to help it break into the market here. "We are currently in discussion with the governors of three different states who have been recruiting us to

LANSING ? Gov. Jennifer Granholm and her economic team will tour the state this week to talk to alternative energy companies about their expansion plans and needs. But she also pushed the Legislature to adopt a renewable energy portfolio to give those alternative energy companies a big boost. Michigan hopes to put alternative energy manufacturing

ADELAIDE, Australia - The University of Michigan solar car team finished 7th in the World Solar Challenge after losing 10 racing hours to a race accident. Just seven kilometers into the Challenge, the U-M lead vehicle was cut off by the Stanford Solar Car Team and forced to break quickly. The U-M solar car, Continuum,

LANSING - Business and environmental groups appeared to be starting on largely the same side as the Senate Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee began discussions on adopting the Great Lakes Compact. Both groups urged legislation that would adopt the compact, which essentially creates a regional authority over use of Great Lakes waters. But environmental

LOS ANGELES - Venture Vehicles, another entry in the alternative car market, says that in 2009 it will start selling a three-wheeled electric car that tilts into turns like motorcycles. The car, based on a steering technology invented by a Dutch company called Carver, will cost $20,000 for a hybrid version or $25,000 for a