This newsletter was originally published on October 3, 2016.

DTE Announces 1000 MW Addition of Natural Gas

DTE unveiled more details on how they plan to meet costumer demands after retiring 11 of their 17 coal units over the next seven years. The plant retirements are a result of their age, and the EPA’s Clean Power Plan could determine how they’re replaced. The plan calls for a 30 percent national reduction in carbon related emissions for power providers and is currently being challenged in federal court. Should the plan be upheld, DTE would need to replace their 11 coal units with lower-carbon emitting sources.

The investor-owned utility is planning to build at least 1000 MW of new natural gas capacity. Gerry Anderson, DTE Energy’s CEO told Crain’s Detroit Business’ editorial board that the they are very concerned about shrinking reserve margins. In their announcement DTE also cited they have avoided 600 MW in generating capacity through their one percent energy optimization program from PA 295 of 2008.

Meanwhile, the Michigan Agency for Energy has been developing modeling for the most affordable ways to comply with the CPP. Of those strategies is expanding energy optimization to 1.5 percent. In a story with Midwest Energy News, Agency Director Valerie Brader stated that energy efficiency is “is absolutely key to our energy future,” continuing that the governor supports higher commitment to energy efficiency. Assuming all things equal, a 1.5 percent energy optimization program could avoid as much a 900 MW in necessary new generation, or 90 percent of what DTE wants to add in new gas plants.

Other experts suggest that increased deployment of wind and solar power will be more affordable and less risky to ratepayers. With Congress’ extension of the production tax credit for wind and the investment tax credit for solar, the prices for renewables are competitive with gas. Furthermore, overreliance on one source poses a risk to ratepayers.

Meanwhile, Lansing continues to work on an energy overhaul package, which could include a 15 percent renewable portfolio standard, according to Senate Energy and Technology Chair Mike Nofs (R-Battle Creek). Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D-Flint) has stated that strong energy efficiency and renewable energy language needs to be in a final deal for the bills to gain Democratic support.

 

Midwest Energy News’ 2016 “40 Under 40” Contains Some Familiar Faces

A Michigan EIBC staffer and six colleagues who work for member companies were among Midwest Energy News’ 2016 “40 Under 40” for “ emerging leaders throughout the region and their work in America’s transition to a clean energy economy.” They are:

• Dan Scripps of Michigan EIBC
• Matthias Bell of OPOWER
• Brian Bowen of FirstFuel Software
• Nathan Franzen of Geronimo Energy
• John Maslowski of Renovate America
• Katie McClain of Invenergy LLC
• Jamie Scripps of 5 Lakes Energy, LLC

The program is entering into their second year. Midwest Energy News began this annual listing to celebrate their five-year anniversary. Since then, each year, they have received hundreds of nominations of Midwest-based leaders and innovators from all sectors —industry, government, regulatory, business, academic, and advocacy.

“Michigan EIBC works to build our state’s energy future, and each of these people are helping that happen. We’re honored to call them colleagues,” said Liesl Eichler Clark, Michigan EIBC President.

 

Fourth Annual Energy Innovators Gala is Next Month; Get Your Ticket Today!

Michigan EIBC is excited to have our fourth annual Energy Innovators Gala on November 10 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. Reserve your ticket today.

Keynote Speaker: John J. Viera

John J. Viera is the Global Director, Sustainability and Vehicle Environmental Matters for Ford Motor Company, a position he has held since January 2007. Viera is responsible for developing global sustainable business plans and policies, interfacing and negotiating environmental regulations with global governmental bodies, reporting externally on the company’s environmental and social performance, and leading the company’s engagement and partnerships with non-government organizations (NGOs) and other key stakeholders.

Become a Sponsor

Michigan EIBC’s premier annual event attracts a broad range of industry leaders from renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation, and the utility sector. Michigan State Legislators, Michigan Public Service Commission staff, and other key decision makers will also be in attendance.

All sponsorship levels include a reserved table at the event and participation in the awards committee to determine recipients for the awards. Become a sponsor today. (link pre-made in mail chimp)

Current Sponsors
Megawatt Sponsors

 

 

 

Kilowatt Sponsor

 

 

 

New/Renewing Members

MEAZON

Meazon designs and manufactures at scale revolutionary small size IoT energy meters and integrates them with cloud technology. We build on open standards and provide insights in energy consumption of commercial and residential buildings. Our metering solution is 100% robust and redundant, storing energy data and schedules both on meter and gateway level. This way we drive significant energy efficiencies.

 

Michigan Energy News

Eight locations hosted ‘solar home tours’ for the American Solar Energy Society’s national tour day. Solarize Michigan hosted on in Saginaw County. Check out some of the photos!

Gongwer News Service wrote a feature on how State Representative Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt) winning the Republican house leadership makes a lame-duck energy deal highly certain, due to his strong connections to legislators who support retail open access.

More lobbyists have influenced the energy debate than legislators, with 148 lobbyists and agents working to influence the legislation, Mlive reports.

The state is seeing the lowest number of drilling permits since 1927 due to changing market dynamics, Michigan Radio reports.

Wolverine Power Cooperative is purchasing 100 percent of a 1.2 MW solar array being constructed in Cadillac. It will be the largest solar array in northern Michigan, PennEnergy reports.

Consumers Energy plans to use GE turbines in their two-phase, 120 MW wind installation in Michigan’s thumb, RE News reports.

 

National Energy News

A recent OPEC decision to reduce output should raise prices for gasoline, rising electric vehicle sales along with it, Bloomberg reports.

These FAQ’s around wind power’s reliability, capacity and price ‘will make you a fan,’ CleanTechnica reports.

US solar prices are continuing to fall, with recent reductions coming mainly from soft costs, NREL reports.

EdiSun Microgrid recently announced their “PV Booster” dual-axis tracker, GreenTech Media reports

Tenaska, an independent power producer usually working with gas-fired plants, announced their purchase of 475 MW of wind in the upper Midwest, Utility Dive reports.

Declining prices are accelerating the deployment of advanced energy, according to a recent DOE report entitled “Future…Now.”

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has proposed a replacement to their existing solar incentive with a new, tariff-based incentive that could support 1.6 GW of new solar power to the state, Utility Dive reports.

 

Michigan Energy Events
The fifth annual Heating the Midwest with Renewable Biomass Conference will be held October 11-13 in Harris, Michigan at the Island Resort and Conference Center.
 
Solarize Michigan is hosting tour more ‘solar home tours,’ residents in Saginaw, Midland and Bay Counties can join their neighbors on October 8 in Sanford, from 12:30 to 2 PM.

The 4th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Gala will be held Thursday, November 10 in East Lansing. Click here to get tickets.
 

Additional Resources
The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant cycle is now open, awarding grants for renewable energy projects in rural communities and agricultural areas. REAP is open to Agricultural Producers and Rural Small Businesses. Grants can be used for the purchase, installation, and construction of a Renewable Energy System or Energy Efficiency Improvement. Rural Small Business Projects must be located in a rural area with populations of 50,000 or less. The Agricultural Producer Projects can be located in rural or non-rural areas. REAP Grants provide a 25% cash reimbursement of the total system costs, with a maximum grant of $500,000 for Renewable Energy Systems and $250,000 for Energy Efficiency Improvements.
 
Applications for projects with Total Project Costs of $80,000 or less are accepted through Monday, October 31, 2016. Applications for projects with Total Project Costs greater than $80,000 are accepted through Monday, May 1, 2017.
 
The Application Templates and Forms are available at USDA Rural Development Offices or the National Website at: www.rd.usda.gov/reap under Forms and Resources.
 
Act Now to Support Fuel-Efficient Vehicles 
In 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration finalized historic regulations to double the average fuel economy of new cars and trucks. As the agencies complete a required review of the regulations, urge them to maintain strong standards. 
Sign your name here.
  
Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is home to PowerSuite, a suite of tools that allows companies a one-stop on-line portal to search, track, and collaborate on state legislation and regulatory proceedings from around the country.
 
PowerSuite includes both BillBoard, the AEE dashboard for managing state legislation, and DocketDash, the AEE dashboard for managing state public utility commission proceedings. Subscription required.
 
SolarPermit.org is a national solar permitting database that provides information on permitting for solar in jurisdictions across the country. The database includes a variety of information, from average permit turnaround times, to information required to be included in the permit, to contact information for individual jurisdictions. You can browse the requirements for the Michigan cities included in the database here.
 
The U.S. Department of Energy is offering A Guide to Federal Finance Facilities Available for Energy Efficiency Upgrades and Clean Energy Deployment. The downloadable guide provides information about the various federal financing programs available for energy efficiency and renewable energy — making it easier for state, local and tribal leaders, along with their partners in the private sector, to find capital for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
 
The Department of Energy has offers free public access to accepted peer-reviewed manuscripts or published scientific journal articles from projects funded by the DOE within 12 months of publication.