By Jim Dulzo/Michigan Land Use Institute The ruckus over renewables isn’t over: Proposal 3’s advocates sound even more determined to boost renewables goals beyond their current “10 percent by 2015” target and make Michigan a jobs-rich, global, renewables manufacturing leader. “This is not the end, it is the beginning,” said Diane Byrum, of Byrum Fisk, […]
Consumers Energy
Posted inMichigan Government
Pro-Proposal 3 ads earn foul from Michigan Truth Squad
MICHIGAN TRUTH SQUAD ANALYSIS: Pro-Proposal 3 ads “Choice” and “Afford” Who: Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs What: TV/Web ads Truth Squad call: Foul Proposal 3 would create an amendment to the Michigan Constitution a requirement that 25 percent of the state’s electrical power come from renewable sources by 2025, with certain caveats. The primary proponent group […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Prop 3: More renewable power, but at what cost?
Consumers Energy President and CEO John Russell caused a stir last month when he marked the dedication of the utility’s first wind farm near Ludington by declaring that renewable energy is “clean, reliable and affordable for Michigan.” Russell’s comments added fuel to the debate over Proposal 3, a proposed constitutional amendment that would require Michigan’s […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Guest column: Electric deregulation cap protects customers
The out-of-state power marketers are at it again. They’re pushing to expand electric deregulation in Michigan under the guise of “competition.” As usual, they’re promising a brighter, better future for the state’s families and businesses, if they can just get their way. An old saying applies here: “If it looks too good to be true, it […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Truth Squad blows whistle on both sides' ads
Proposal 3, one of six measures on the statewide ballot on Nov. 6, seeks to install in the Michigan Constitution a requirement for the use of electricity generated from renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. Michigan currently has a state law that mandates a 10 percent “renewable portfolio standard” by 2015. Under Proposal […]
Posted inMichigan Government
Special-interest money floods ballot-measure efforts
Voters could see as many as seven proposals to amend the Michigan Constitution or state law on this November’s ballot – or none at all. Bureaucratic and legal reviews continue of the various proposals. Regardless of how they play out, though, Michigan has seen an unprecedented surge of spending to collect signatures and advance ideas […]
Posted inGuest Commentary
Where will Michigan get its energy in 2030?
Michigan citizens may be hearing a great deal of power-plant technology, carbon emissions and renewable energy standards this fall if a ballot proposal to require a larger share of state electricity come from renewable sources makes the statewide ballot. Prior to that determination being made, Bridge Magazine asked representatives of a large Michigan utility and […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
State sails toward renewable energy mark
Michigan electricity providers are making good progress toward meeting the state’s 2015 renewable-energy mandate, mainly because of a sharp drop in wind-power generation costs, a recent state Public Service Commission report found. The commission also says the cost of renewables is lower than the projected cost of producing electricity from a new coal-fired plant. Spokesmen […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Prospects brighten for Mich. heavyweights
At Kelly Services Inc., business is good — quite good. In Michigan alone last year, the global staffing company placed approximately 2,500 more people in positions than it did in 2010, spanning industries and all lines of Kelly’s business: temporary help, temp-to-hire and direct hires. There’s been steady, increased demand for Troy-based Kelly’s services as […]
Posted inBusiness Watch
Climbing pole to $100,000 per year
When Michigan legislators seek guidance for the state’s economic woes, they may want to look up … they may just catch a glimpse of the future of workforce development. His name is Dan Kilgore, a 31-year-old from Battle Creek. Working today as an electric line technician, Kilgore got his job by participating in a partnership between […]