WASHINGTON DC - A federal appeals court on Thursday denied a stay sought by numerous states' attorneys general, including Michigan's Attorney General Bill Schuette, of the federal carbon emissions rule by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where the challenge to the EPA's Clean Power
LANSING - The United States and Canada need some additional structures in place to protect against withdrawals from the Great Lakes, but they also need better data on who is using what water from the basin, the International Joint Commission said in a report released this week. The report, a follow-up on the Great Lakes Compact
NOVI - When eagles were discovered underneath the ITC Transmission lines on Beaver Island in Clinton Iowa, the company worked quickly to install yellow-coiled bird diverters. “It reduces mortality by somewhere between 50 to 90 percent,” says Drew Becker, an eagle biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “In situations like this, it’s all
LAS VEGAS - A Las Vegas, Nev. data center operator said Thursday that its massive planned data center near Grand Rapids would be powered 100 percent by renewable energy. Switch said it had already begun working with the local utility, Consumers Energy, to supply its 2-million-square-foot SUPERNAP data center in Gaines Township with green power.
LANSING - The Michigan Public Service Commission on Tuesday opened an investigation into Consumers Energy Company's estimated billing practices after hearing complaints from customers about estimated bills. "Problems have persisted for several years despite repeated meetings between the MPSC staff and the utility to reduce the number of estimated bills," PSC Chair Sally Talberg said
GRAND RAPIDS - West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum will present a luncheon on sustainable food management and organic waste February 8 at Aquinas College. Featured speaker is Susan Mooney, Chief of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 5 Municipal and Industrial Materials Section. Mooney will introduce various EPA programs and tools that businesses can use
SOUTHFIELD - Environmental and Technical Controls Inc. hopes to build a $24 million plant on Detroit’s east side to supply hydrogen fuel cell power systems pending land approval from the Detroit City Council. The 150,000 square foot plant would manufacture fuel cells and components as well as research and development, warehousing and distribution. GEI’s technology
LANSING - Based on known markers for the pollutants, Michigan waters are being affected by septic tank effluents in the winter and cattle manure in the spring and summer, presenters at a symposium by the Michigan Agri-Business Association said. Controlling the former would mean additional controls on septic tanks, while controlling the latter could be
LANSING - Rep. Aric Nesbitt said this week there is room for technical and clerical changes in legislation overhauling the state's energy laws, but changes to the competition and competitive bidding pieces are unlikely. Nesbitt's (R-Lawton) energy plan in HB 4298, HB 4297 and HB 4575 has been sitting on the House floor since early
LANSING - The Michigan Department of Natural Resources currently is seeking public comment on the final draft of its 2016-2020 Wildlife Division Strategic Plan - Guiding Principles and Strategies. The GPS sets the DNR Wildlife Division’s strategic direction for the management of Michigan’s unique wildlife resources for the next five years. The plan clearly defines
