Friday, February 6, 2009

WCS MMSTC Renewable Energy Institute gets Governor Granholm's GREEN-STAMP of Approval!

Granholm's call for renewables offers industry a chance to grow

Gov. Jennifer Granholm's call for a sharp increase in renewable energy production in Michigan is a real economic development opportunity, according to those in the industry.

"I think the renewable energy industry has been trying to grow and develop on its own, and with the support now of the governor, and as we are able to offer incentives, the public will come along," said Jennifer Alvarado, executive director of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association. "This is the strategy that the industry needs. I think the state will attract new businesses, especially those in large wind projects and those selling solar panels."

There should also be growth in renewable energy installation and maintenance companies.

The State of the State Address called on goals for 1,000 schools to reduce energy use and supplement electricity use with options like solar and wind electricity.

“By bringing renewable energy systems to our schools, we create an opportunity to educate an entire community and students about alternative energy options,” added Alvarado.

State officials already passed legislation last year that 10 percent of the state's electricity sold must come from renewable sources.

Tuesday, Granholm called for a “45 by '20” plan, for Michigan to pursue a 45 percent reduction in fossil fuel use for generating electricity by the year 2020. NextEnergy, the state's alternative energy accelerator, said Wednesday that Michigan spends $2 billion a year importing coal from other states and that coal supplies Michigan with 80 percent of the its electricity currently.

Rodger A. Kershner, an attorney at Howard & Howard in Royal Oak with a long practice in the energy industry, said that plan amounts to "a backwards way" of boosting that 10 percent of renewable power to 20 percent by 2020. Kershner said that with a new nuclear plant for Detroit Edison and a sharp increase in wind power, the 45 percent could be reached -- and in so doing, renewables boosted to 20 percent.

Will Granholm get the plan approved? "I don't know," Kershner said. "Industry won't like it. Republicans won't like it. But she has dressed it up in a 'This is the way out of our financial woes' clothing, and it is exciting."

Fellow Howard & Howard attorney Jon D. Kreucher said there's also movement toward a serious energy efficiency effort in state schools, and schools "seem to be pretty high value targets in terms of driving down demand by increasing efficiency."

NextEnergy released a statement Wednesday supporting Granholm’s proposal.

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