2/1/2012
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
Suniva Inc. is looking for acceptable financing and favorable market conditions before committing to a 2013 start-up of its $250 million solar cell manufacturing facility in Thomas Township. To assist with financing, in December the Michigan Economic Development Authority authorized an $8.7 million tax credit and renewed a previously granted $15 million photovoltaic Michigan Business Tax credit. Ground has been broken on the 240-acre Great Lakes Solar Technology Park where 40 acres have been set aside for Suniva. Meanwhile, GlobalWatt, a developer of solar products, shut down its manufacturing facility in Saginaw area and left behind unused tax credits to relocate operations in Copemish and Hudsonville.
1/29/2012
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
A coalition of groups and companies is seeking to place a constitutional amendment before voters on November 3, 2012 to set Michigan’s energy policy. The proposed ballot language would require that by 2025 at least 25 percent of each electricity provider’s annual retail electricity sales be derived from clean renewable electric energy sources. The requirement would cover investor-owned, municipal-owned, and cooperative-owned electric utilities in the state. Petitions requesting that the initiative be placed on the November ballot must be filed by July 9, 2012, and must contain at least 322,609 valid signatures. Although the period during which signatures may be sought is 180 days, the petition must be filed at least 120 days before the election. The initiative requires a majority of the votes cast to go into effect.
1/27/2012
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
In May 2011, in front of 40 of Michigan’s top leaders in clean energy manufacturing, Governor Snyder presented the first Reinventing Michigan Award to Energetx Composites. Having waited impatiently for four months, this group of entrepreneurs (ready to unleash their economic gardening skills, resources, and innovation) asked the Governor for his energy policy. Answer: his energy policy would be forthcoming “in the fall”. In August, when Valerie Brader was named the state’s energy policy officer, Mike Finney stated “Energy concerns are at the center of our economic future, whether we are talking about its cost and availability or job creation and new business potential in green energy manufacturing.” Then word went out that the Governor’s energy policy statement would be pushed to the first quarter of 2012. More waiting for those concerned about: RPS, standby rates, distributed energy, bioenergy, offshore wind, deregulation, customer choice, coal-fired generation, solar manufacturing, and advanced energy storage. The State of the State message last week yielded another setback: energy policy is being pushed off until “this fall”. Michigan has been treading water on energy policy for over a year. We are in a policy twilight zone. Elected officials need to hear from the clean energy manufacturing community now. Policy delayed is policy denied.
Tags:
advanced energy storage systems,
alternative energy,
biofuels,
biomass,
energy policy,
green energy,
lithium ion batteries,
Michigan alternative energy,
MPSC Renewable Portfolio Standards groundrules,
solar energy,
wind energy
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1/22/2012
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
With an initial goal of developing cost effective, off-the-shelf anaerobic digestion technology for small and medium-sized farms, Michigan State University has established its Anaerobic Digester Research and Education Center. The Center brings together resources that were spread across four laboratories on the East Lansing campus. There are already 150 manure digesters at large dairy farms across the nation, with the potential for 8,000 more according to EPA estimates. If all sites implemented biogas systems, they could generate 1,500 MW of renewable energy. Michigan has 6,000 small to medium dairy farms that are being targeted under the MSU effort.
1/16/2012
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
Cobalt Technologies and American Process Inc. have agreed to build the world’s first industrial-scale cellulosic biorefinery to produce biobutanol in Alpena. The continuous fermentation and distillation technology will convert cellulosic biomass feedstock into fermentable sugars that will be used to produce ethanol and biobutanol. The biobutanol can be used “as is” in paints, coatings and blended with gasoline, diesel and ethanol, or it can be converted into bio-based plastics or full performance jet fuel. Ethanol production will begin in early 2012, with a switch to biobutanol later in the year. Funding for the project includes grants of $18 million from the U.S. Department of Energy and $4 million from the State of Michigan.
1/15/2012
by Varnum’s Battery Law Industry Group
A123 Systems has a new contract with Via Motors, a company that specializes in converting standard vehicles to hybrids. A123 Systems will provide lithium-ion batteries for the world’s first extended range electric/hybrid trucks, available for consumers in 2013. The trucks, which are estimated to travel 30-40 miles per charge with another 360 miles on gasoline, are currently featured on Via’s website and include standard, extended, and crew cab versions. Says Kraig Higginson, CEO of Via Motors, “We selected A123′s nanophosphate lithium ion battery systems because they are able to package higher power into a compact space in the vehicle.” To see the trucks in person, visit the North American International Auto Show going on now through January 22 in Detroit.
1/11/2012
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
Dow Corning Corporation will soon have a bio-mass energy facility built at its Midland location which will supply steam and up to 40 MW of electricity. To be owned and operated by Midland Power Station, formerly Cirque Energy, the electricity and steam will be generated through the gasification of such feedstock as tree waste, energy crops and agricultural waste. Experimentation with ten test plots of various perennial energy crops has begun as employees recently planted giant miscanthus, switch grass, big bluestem, Indian grass, sorghum, willow, and poplar trees on adjacent properties. ”It saves money; it saves the environment, ” explains Cameron Fryzel, a summer intern working on the project.
1/3/2012
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
Mascoma Corporation, yet to break ground on its Kinross, Michigan non-food cellulosic ethanol facility, plans to raise up to $100 Million in an initial public offering (IPO) of stock. The company has developed technology and genetically modified yeast with the potential to cut the cost of breaking down cellulose and fermenting the sugar. It is already producing ethanol from wood on a demonstration scale at its facility in Rome, NY, and its affiliate Frontier Renewable Resources is developing the commercial operation at Kinross. The air permit for the facility was issued in July. Investors in the parent company include General Catalyst Partners, Kleiner Perkilns Caufield & Byers, VantagePoint Venture Partners, Atlas Venture, Valero, General Motors, Pinnacle Ventures, Flagship Ventures, Khosla Ventures, U.S. Department of Energy, State of New York, and the State of Michigan.
12/27/2011
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
Two West Michigan companies, L3 Combat Propulsion Systems of Muskegon and Rockford Bergé of Grand Rapids, have organized the Michigan Wind Energy Consortium. With the support of other local companies, they intend to take advantage of Muskegon’s deep-water port capacity and the area’s manufacturing capabilities to build parts for wind turbines and ship them around the world. The industrial center may begin as a wind turbine hub, but could support other advanced manufacturing, shipping, research and development, testing and education activities as it develops. The economic development effort will bring together private companies, local government, economic development agencies, and colleges. The proposed West Michigan Economic Partnership between Kent and Muskegon counties is also key to the project.
12/22/2011
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
Consumers Energy has canceled the $2.3 billion 830 MW supercritical coal-fired power plant for which it had successfully obtained an air permit in late 2009. The recession and slow economic recovery which have reduced customer demand, a surplus in Midwest generating capacity, and low natural gas prices, were all given as reasons for the decision. The company will also suspend operations of seven smaller coal-fired units on January 1, 2015; two at Karn Weadock, three at J.R. Whiting, and two at B.C. Cobb generating plants. Environmental upgrades at its five remaining coal-fired units are estimated to cost $1.6 billion. The shutdowns and upgrades together will reduce the company’s overall air emissions by 90 percent. Meanwhile, Consumers Energy’s 100 MW wind farm is now under construction in Mason County and will be ready in late 2012, and its 150 MW wind farm in Tuscola County will commence operations in late 2015.
