by Bruce Goodman

Earlier this month, I had total replacement surgery on my right hip. Nagging pains that started ten years ago gradually developed into stronger, sharper pains, causing me to walk off-kilter. I knew it was time for corrective action and thanks to my skilled surgeon, I now look forward to a future free of pain. Michigan’s alternative energy development efforts are kind of like that: we are off kilter and surgery is needed. Ever since 1978 and PURPA, standby tariffs in Michigan have taken the incentive out of self-generation projects that make economic sense. This “nagging pain” must be corrected by the MPSC before self-generation developers give up on Michigan. Adding to the pain is the refusal of the major utilities to use their purchasing power to attract an established wind turbine OEM to Michigan. Our legislature gave the utilities a gift of half the RPS action; the quid pro quo should have been to use that gift to bring an OEM to Michigan. Whether it is the MPSC, the Governor, or the legislature, someone needs to find the political will to make this happen, before the utility wind turbine orders are placed. Where is our political team of surgeons?

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by Bruce Goodman

With a $1.4 million DOE grant in hand and a request for a $2.0 million MPSC grant pending, Grand Valley State University is preparing to issue a Request for Proposal for a Lake Michigan offshore meteorological tower and research platform.  The RFP will be seeking a partner ready to contribute the additional resources needed and take responsibility for siting, designing, and constructing the project.  It is expected that the site selected for the project will be favorably suited for a future utility scale wind energy project.

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