[SusDet Announce] Energy Tidbits - February 2007

[Sarver, John H (DLEG)]

ENERGY TIDBITS - February 2007

MPSC Chairman J. Peter Lark has submitted the state's 21st Century Energy Plan to Governor Granholm. The Plan recommends that Michigan's future energy needs be met through a combination of renewable resources and the cleanest generating technology, with significant energy savings achieved by increased energy efficiency. The Plan recommends that all retail electric energy suppliers be required to obtain at least 10% of their energy supplies from renewable resources by 2015. The plan recommends a new approach to utility-built generation. Using this approach, a utility would file a plan that includes renewable resources, energy efficiency measures, power available from external markets, and existing traditional generation to meet forecasted demand. Against that backdrop, if the utility plan demonstrates a need for a new baseload plant, the MPSC may approve the decision to build the plant by issuing a certificate of need. 

The Plan recommends creation of a Michigan Energy Efficiency Program that would cost the average residential customer about 50 cents per month and will fund energy efficiency measures and energy efficiency education throughout the state. The program's initial funding level will be $68 million annually, and will be adjusted for the subsequent two years at the conclusion of a contested case (with a budget goal of $110 million by the third year of operation). By pursuing the balanced approach set forth in the Plan, modeling shows the value of total savings to customers over the next 20 years is $4 billion, and even more, if the federal government enacts future taxes on greenhouse gas emissions, as expected. www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/electric/capacity/energyplan/index.htm

Rolling Stone magazine salutes the "Year's Greatest Mavericks" including Stephen Colbert, Al Gore, Bob Woodward, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Rev. Charles Morris, ENERGY STAR promoter and energy efficiency and renewable energy advocate.  Check out Michigan Interfaith Power and Light at www.miipl.org and the Dec. 28-Jan 11 issue of Rolling Stone, p. 96.

Seminars on Sustainability: SOS for the Environment will be held on Feb. 20, 8:00 am - 8:30 pm at Lawrence Technological University. ASHRAE President Terry Townsend will be the keynote breakfast speaker. This event includes seminars on ASHRAE Standards 62.1 and 90.1, Ventilation, Indoor Air Quality, Sustainability, LEED, Solar Decathlon, Energy Policy Act of 2005, Commissioning, Operating and Maintaining Buildings, Tours and more.  www.detroitashrae.org   

President Bush in his State of the Union called for increasing the supply of renewable and alternative fuels by setting a mandatory fuels standard to require 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels in 2017.  This will displace 15% of projected gasoline use in 2017.  The new standard will include corn ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, biodiesel, methanol, butanol, hydrogen, and alternative fuels. Current law requires 7.5 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2012.

U-M Student Group has made it to the top ten list of the MTV Ecoimagination contest.  The students are planning to construct a greenroof on the University of Michigan's Outdoor Activities Center. The greenroof will use a modular system of four square feet planter boxes with a soil depth of four inches to allow native Michigan plant species to grow successfully.  You can vote for their project at http://www.ecocollegechallenge.com/.  I did.

House Bill 4647 passed the Michigan legislature, but has been vetoed by the Governor. The bill would have amended the Single Business Tax Act to provide taxpayers that own and use a wind turbine with a credit against the tax.  The credit would have been equal to 1.5 cents/kWh generated for the 2007 tax year.  Because of the State's budget difficulties the Governor found it necessary to veto HB 4647 and a number of other bills that had a fiscal impact.

Ralph A. MacMullan Conference Center, located in Roscommon, has earned Green Lodging Michigan certification as a Steward. The RAM Center implemented many environmental initiatives at their facility such as using programmable thermostats, implementing a towel/linen reuse program, and purchasing specifications for Michigan food and products. "Managing this facility with the environment in mind has always been a priority," said Mark Buchinger, administrative manager, Office of Land and Facilities, Department of Natural Resources. "Participating in the Green Lodging Michigan program has validated those practices and provided us with information on additional ways to help us do our part in preserving the unique environment here on Higgins Lake." http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10365-71716--,00.html

Energy Efficiency Home Building Training for home builders will cover 9 energy efficiency home examples, best practices, and ENERGY STAR and federal tax credit requirements. Workshops will be held in Oakland County on March 8, Ann Arbor on March 9, Lansing on March 14, Grand Rapids on March 16, Marquette on March 21, and Farmington Hills on March 27.  For additional information go to www.michigan.gov/energyoffice under Calendar of Events.

Lansing Board of Water & Light has adopted a renewable energy policy that sets specific goals for increased usage of renewable energy sources: Dec. 31, 2008: generate or purchase 2% of BWL's electric retails sales, Dec. 31, 2012: 5% of sales, and Dec. 31, 2016: 7% of sales. 

Wind Power generating capacity increased by 27% in 2006 and is expected to increase an additional 26% in 2007, according to a American Wind Energy Assoc. market forecast. The U.S. installed 2,454 MW of new wind generating capacity in 2006, an investment of $4 billion, boosting cumulative U.S. installed wind energy capacity to 11,603 MW. Texas accounted for nearly a third of the new wind power installed in 2006, taking over the lead from California in cumulative installed capacity. Texas hosts the world's single largest operating wind farm, the 735-MW Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center. Much of the new equipment was produced in new manufacturing facilities in Iowa, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. The top five states in new installations were Texas (774 MW), Washington (428 MW), California (212 MW), New York (185 MW) & Minnesota (150 MW). 

Michigan Wind and Solar Energy Monitoring Sites are now linked from www.michigan.gov/eorenew. Eight sites which monitor electricity produced by solar or wind are identified.  If you have any sites to add to our list, send a note to jhsarve at michigan.gov 

Introductory Renewable Energy Seminars will be held in Ann Arbor on February 10 and an Intermediate Photovoltaic Seminar will be held in Dimondale on February 24. www.glrea.org

"Smart" Appliances have computer chips which allow them to communicate, via the Internet, with the local power company. The GridWise test program in Washington and Oregon is being run by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. A house has been outfitted with a "smart" dryer, water heater and thermostat for heating and cooling. Appliances shut down, turn on, or take a break when electricity prices or strain on the power grid are high.  A key component is a "home gateway" or small computer that rests between the homeowner's computer and their broadband connection. It grabs messages from the Internet (about power use and power prices) and sends signals to the appliances. It costs about $1,000 to outfit a home for the study including the cost of research. As the technology becomes common, that cost is expected to drop to $200 per customer.

Outdoor Lighting is the topic for the December issue of Energy Observer.  Go to www.michigan.gov/energyoffice and look under Publications.

Biodiesel and Other Fuel Efficient Options will be held on Saturday, February 10, 1-4 pm at Upland Hills Ecological Awareness Center in Oxford.  info at uheac.org  or 248-693-1021

Alternative Fuel Vehicles Seminar will be held on Feb. 3, 9 am - 1:30 pm at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in Hastings. Jim Pitts from Lansing Community College will present the latest trends in alternative fuel vehicles and will cover fuel cells, hybrids, gaseous fuel, and feedstock fuels such as ethanol & biodiesel. Please call 269-721-4190 to register. 

Michigan Commercial Energy Code Training Program based on ASHRAE 90.1-1999 will be held on Feb. 22, 8:00-12:00  at Polo Fields Golf & C.C. in Ann Arbor.  The Construction Management Program, MSU, has developed this training for building officials, inspectors, engineers, architects, and contractors.  The program covers building envelope, lighting, HVAC, compliance forms, ComCheck EZ compliance software, and discussion of changes in the 2004 version.  www.michigan.gov/energyoffice under News and Information.

Energy Tidbits is free.  To subscribe, contact me at jhsarve at michigan.gov.




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