State Senate energy bills threaten many, starting with solar workers

If you like clean energy, you won’t like the two energy bills the Michigan Senate Energy & Technology Committee sent to the floor on May 25. And you really won’t like them if you want more competition among utilities, more renewable energy from your utility, and the freedom to make solar energy on your property.

Phony Energy ‘Markets’ Need Mandates from Lansing

Phony Energy ‘Markets’ Need Mandates from Lansing

The debate among state lawmakers over how best to update Michigan’s renewable energy policies reveals a stark difference. Some in Lansing are loath to actually require our monopoly utilities to add more renewables or help customers cut energy waste. But others insist that only strong legislation that forces utilities to provide additional clean energy will get the job done. History favors the pragmatists.

State, Top Utilities, Energy Groups Eye Next Steps for Solar

State, Top Utilities, Energy Groups Eye Next Steps for Solar

A specially assembled “solar work group” of state regulators, officials from the state’s two largest utilities, and clean-energy business advocates is considering ways to deploy more solar energy in Michigan that help, not hurt the firms’ bottom lines; protect ratepayers’ wallets while offering them an entrepreneurial opportunity; and boost the state’s solar manufacturers and installers.

State, Top Utilities, Energy Groups Eye Next Steps for Solar

State, Top Utilities, Energy Groups Eye Next Steps for Solar

A specially assembled “solar work group” of state regulators, officials from the state’s two largest utilities, and clean-energy business advocates is considering ways to deploy more solar energy in Michigan that help, not hurt the firms’ bottom lines; protect ratepayers’ wallets while offering them an entrepreneurial opportunity; and boost the state’s solar manufacturers and installers.

State, Top Utilities, Energy Groups Eye Next Steps for Solar

State, Top Utilities, Energy Groups Eye Next Steps for Solar

A specially assembled “solar work group” of state regulators, officials from the state’s two largest utilities, and clean-energy business advocates is considering ways to deploy more solar energy in Michigan that help, not hurt the firms’ bottom lines; protect ratepayers’ wallets while offering them an entrepreneurial opportunity; and boost the state’s solar manufacturers and installers.

Andy Levin: ‘Lean & Green’ Can Help Efficiency, Clean Energy Soar

Andy Levin: ‘Lean & Green’ Can Help Efficiency, Clean Energy Soar

Andy Levin urges local leaders to adopt an ordinance he designed based on a 2010 state law, known as PACE, that would put tradesmen to work on efficiency and renewables projects for local businesses to boost their profits without spending public dollars. “PACE” means Property Assessed Clean Energy. It allows local governments to raise bonds to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for local firms-and use special property tax assessments for paying off the loans.