Clean Update

MDEQ Increases Funding, Extends Deadline For Recycling Grants

LANSING — The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality announced that it will increase available funding for Recycling Infrastructure Grants from $500,000 to $3.7 million and the extend the deadline for grant applications to May 1. The MDEQ originally announced this grant opportunity Nov. 21 in support of the statewide recycling goals of increasing the recycling

By |2019-03-02T13:51:18-05:00March 2nd, 2019|Clean Update, ESD|

DTE Electric Gets MPSC Blessing For Revised Voluntary Green Pricing Program

LANSING - The Michigan Public Service Commission approved DTE Electric Co.’s revised voluntary green pricing program, which allows residential and small commercial customers to designate how much of the electricity they use is to be generated from renewable sources. With the revisions, the Commission determined the MIGreenPower program now meets the criteria set in Section

By |2019-03-01T12:12:44-05:00February 22nd, 2019|Clean Update, Politics|

DTE Electric Issues $650 Million In Green Bonds To Finance Carbon-Free Investments

DETROIT - DTE Electric issued its second offering of green bonds on Friday, Feb. 15. The $650 million in bonds will finance green investments, including renewable energy and energy efficiency. In its initial green bond offering in May 2018, DTE became the fifth investment-grade energy company in the nation – and the first company in Michigan

By |2019-02-19T20:35:43-05:00February 19th, 2019|Clean Update|

Wind Continues To Dominate Renewable Energy Generation In Michigan

LANSING – Wind generation continues to be the primary source of alternative electric power in Michigan, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission’s ninth annual report on renewable energy, released Friday. Utility-scale wind turbine projects generated 69 percent of the approximately 3,000 megawatts of nameplate capacity in 2018, the same as the previous year, according

By |2019-02-15T16:02:43-05:00February 15th, 2019|Clean Update, Politics, Politics/Government|

Energy Waste Reduction Saves Utility Customers $1.1 Billion

LANSING – Energy waste reduction programs have saved nearly 1.6 million megawatt hours of electricity and more than 5.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas, according to the Michigan Public Service Commission’s annual report, released Friday. The 2017 Utility Energy Waste Reduction Programs report found 64 electric companies (investor-owned, cooperatives, and municipalities) spent a total

By |2019-02-15T16:02:44-05:00February 15th, 2019|Clean Update, Politics, Politics/Government|

Creating YOUR Green Home Seminar

ANN ARBOR - The Builders and Remodelers Association will present a seminar on Feb. 26 for Creating Your Green Home, presented by Michael Klement, AIA, principal of Architectural Resource, one of the foremost residential sustainable design firms in South East Michigan. The seminar will cover all aspects that you will need to consider when planning

By |2019-02-10T13:38:10-05:00February 10th, 2019|Clean Update|

GVSU Cuts Deal With MSU To Deal With Water-Related Issues

MUSKEGON -  Grand Valley State University's Annis Water Resources Institute have signed a memorandum of understanding  with Michigan State University's Institute of Water Research on water-related issues. AWRI, which sits on Muskegon Lake, is a part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at GVSU and supports research, education and outreach aimed at preserving

By |2019-02-09T11:26:09-05:00February 9th, 2019|Clean Update, New Products / Contracts|

MPSC Approves More Wind For Consumers’ Renewable Energy Plan

LANSING – The Michigan Public Service Commission this week approved Consumers Energy Co.’s request to add wind generation to its renewable energy plan, but delayed a decision on the company’s request to add solar facilities. Consumers said the new wind and solar facilities are needed to meet the state’s renewable portfolio standard. The standard set

By |2019-02-08T11:27:12-05:00February 8th, 2019|Clean Update, Politics, Politics/Government|

UM Launches Carbon Neutrality Commission

ANN ARBOR – Officials at the University of Michigan announced the selection of the President’s Commission on Carbon Neutrality, a team that will recommend how the university will reach the goal of becoming a carbon neutral institution, as well as develop transferable strategies that can be used by other institutions and larger communities to achieve

By |2019-02-07T19:51:28-05:00February 7th, 2019|Clean Update, ESD|

Study: Fairness In Planning A Big Deal To People’s Perception Of Wind Turbines

ANN ARBOR – When local residents feel the planning process for building wind turbines is fair and open, their perceptions of the often-controversial energy source remain steady or improve with time, according to a new University of Michigan study. In fact, the openness with which the planning process is handled is more important in shaping

By |2019-02-07T19:51:28-05:00February 7th, 2019|Clean Update, ESD|