Port of Muskegon Offloads Wind Turbine Blades

On August 22 a Panamanian freighter docked in Muskegon with wind turbine blades for the Exelon Corp’s Beebe Wind Farm in Ithaca (see photo). The 59 meter, 11 ton blades were manufactured in Germany.  Three more shipments of blades will arrive in the next 30 days. There will also be three shipments of tower components from Korea offloaded during this time. The 125 Nordex N117/2400 2.4 MW wind turbines for the project will be manufactured and shipped from Jonesboro, Arkansas.

Scorecard on 25 x 25 Ballot Initiative

The Michigan Board of Canvassers has certified the 25 percent renewable generation by 2025 ballot proposal for the November 6 ballot. Ballot numbers will be assigned next month. Latest developments:

In favor:

• A poll released for small business owners in Michigan shows 79 percent support the initiative
• Former Michigan Republican Party Chair Saul Anuzis has endorsed the initiative
• 140 academics, scientists and experts in Michigan have signed an open letter in support, finding it feasible and citing its economic and health benefits
• Michigan State University’s Land Policy Institute has issued a report finding that the initiative could create at 74,000 new Michigan jobs and generate $10.3 billion in new investments
• Michigan Education Association has issued a statement supporting the initiative
• Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs’ first campaign finance report shows it has raised $2.25 Million for the election campaign, including $1.34 Million from the Green Tech Action Fund of San Francisco and $450,000 from the Natural Resources Defense Council of New York
• Visit: www.mienergymijobs.com/

Opposed: 

• Former Democratic Attorney General Frank Kelly has come out against the initiative
• The Utility Works Union of America has issued a statement opposing the initiative
• Care for Michigan Coalition’s (a/k/a Clean Affordable Renewable Energy for Michigan Coalition) first campaign finance report shows it has raised $5.92 Million for the election campaign, including $2.77 Million from DTE Energy (parent of Detroit Edison) and $2.98 Million from CMS Energy (parent of Consumers Energy)
• Citizens Protecting Michigan’s Constitution’s first campaign finance report shows it has raised $340,000 for the election campaign, including $100,000 from the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, $30,000 from Michigan Manufacturers Association, $30,000 from West Michigan Policy Forum of Grand Rapids, $30,000 from Small Business Association of Michigan, and $30,000 from the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce
• Visit: www.careformich.com/

Buy a Block of Sun Energy?

Traverse City Light & Power has proposed a Community Solar Project wherein customers can purchase a “sun block” of energy. The program needs at least 59 customers (residential or commercial) to signup, each for one “sun block”. A 100 kWh block of solar energy will cost a customer an estimated $16 per month. If a sufficient number of customers sign up, TCL&P will construct a solar array in 2013.

Efficient Lighting to Boost Jobs 

The Michigan Solid-State Lighting Association (MSSLA), together with DTE Energy, the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, the Michigan Energy Office, and NextEnergy, held a workshop in Detroit on August 21 about using light emitting diodes (LEDs) in lighting projects and building retrofits to achieve energy savings and improve performance. [The Department of Energy estimates that the nation will reduce the amount of energy used for lighting by 46 percent through the growing adoption of LED lighting.] The meeting also focused on the Michigan job growth and economic impact potential related to the adoption of solid-state and advanced lighting initiatives. The MSSLA is comprised of 29 companies and organizations, representing LED manufacturers, distributors, and partners based in the state. See www.mssla.org/

Utility Owned Solar Projects Moving Forward

DTE Energy will have its 485 kw solar array in Huron County, designed and built by Nova Consultants, complete by Thanksgiving. The project is on land leased from Wil-Le Farms in Bad Axe. DTE already has solar systems up and operating at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (Detroit), Monroe County Community College (Monroe), General Motors Assembly Plant (Detroit-Hamtramck), and Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant (Wayne). The Company plans on having 15 MW of utility-owned solar projects, and 5 MW of customer-owned projects under its fully subscribed SolarCurrents program. 

Michigan Shorts

ΩΩ  Consumers Energy is donating 100,000 energy-efficient light bulbs to the Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank for distribution to families  Ω  DTE Energy has contracted with GE for 137 wind turbines with a capacity of 220 megawatts for its projected wind farms  Ω  The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality has approved an 18-month extension for Holland Board of Public Works’ air permit to install for a 78-megawatt circulating fluidized bed, solid fuel-fired power plant  Ω  Freemont Community Digester has posted job openings for ten positions, ranging from engineers to drivers  Ω  Governor Snyder has issued Executive Order 2012-9 dissolving the Michigan Next Energy Authority and transferring all functions to the Michigan Strategic Fund Board, which was created by statute to promote the development of alternative energy technologies and provide tax incentives for R&D and the manufacturing of those technologies  ΩΩ

Campaign Season Starts—How Will Energy Policy Fare?

Historically, the official political campaign season kicks off on Labor Day. Although the national parties will have “energy platforms”, it is unclear whether there will be any real debate (let alone intelligent debate) regarding energy policy and national security. Undoubtedly, in Michigan we will finally be focusing on energy issues after a two-year policy vacuum. The 25 x 25 ballot initiative will frame the discussion—what will be our state’s future electric generation policy and how will it impact jobs. Anyone with an interest in and knowledge of energy needs to be heard. We need facts, not emotion. Intelligent discussion, not fear mongering. Thoughtful commentary, not sound bites. Advocates of every persuasion need to speak up and make an accurate record that will allow people to vote wisely. Let us all resolve to have an intelligent, non-partisan, fact-filled, and energetic debate. See you at the polls.