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.
12/19/2011
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
Five elements to include in an energy policy for Michigan:
BIOMASS ENERGY: Make use of the energy in biomass that is going to waste in this state. The BTU content of the “unused biomass” in the state of Michigan is enormous.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY/CONSERVATION: Make better use of our existing energy resources. Because our energy costs are so low, citizens and industry are not very aggressive in avoiding the “waste” of electricity and fuels. Increasing the price of energy (a carbon tax would be a start with a redistribution of the revenues to accomplish energy efficiency) is an option that deserves serious consideration.
DEREGULATION/CUSTOMER CHOICE ON ELECTRICITY: Reintroduce competition into the purchase and production of electricity. The deregulation of Michigan’s electric industry which was begun in 2000 was reversed in 2008. Just as competition in the telephone industry drove down prices and fostered innovation, the same competitive effect could drive Michigan’s electric industry.
ENCOURAGE ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Make electric cars work in Michigan. The state has placed a huge bet on the success of the electric vehicle industry; it is time to lead the nation in electric vehicle ownership. State government should fill its fleets with electric vehicles and the infrastructure for electric vehicles needs to be built out. Consider tax incentives for vehicle purchases.
BE A MODEL FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY: Made-in-Michigan renewable products and technology could lead the world. Michigan already is a leader in the solar energy field with Hemlock Semiconductor and United Solar Ovonics; we need to demonstrate how this technology can be adapted for integration into buildings, the electric grid, and society. Similarly, Michigan has fledgling biofuels, biomass, wind, and geothermal industries and technologies that need to be strongly encouraged, whether with grants, tax incentives, or other assistance. To make Michigan a showcase for the implementation of these technologies, we need a larger renewable portfolio standard (from 10 percent to 25 percent) and the removal of barriers to self generation (i.e. unreasonably high standby rates and unreasonably expensive interconnection charges).
These may not be the top five, but they deserve to be near the
top of the list.
Tags:
advanced energy storage systems,
alternative energy,
biodiesel,
biofuels,
biomass,
electric vehicles,
energy efficiency,
energy policy,
lithium ion batteries,
Michigan alternative energy,
Michigan energy,
MPSC Renewable Portfolio Standards groundrules,
MPSC RPS groundrules,
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12/16/2011
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
Wind farm projects and plans are cropping up all around Michigan. The Gratiot County wind project commenced construction in September and is starting to give tours. The Muskegon County Board has just approved a proposed lease agreement that gives Muskegon Wind LLC, a partnership between Gamesa Energy USA and Scandia Wind Offshore, exclusive rights to research and investigate the suitability of constructing a wind farm on the County’s wastewater treatment site. Duke Energy has narrowed the potential location for its Gail Windpower project to Pleasanton and Joyfield Townships in Benzie and Manistee Counties. Construction commenced on November 7 at the Lake Winds Energy Park being developed by Consumers Energy in Mason County, with the delivery of 56 Vestas V100-1.8 MW turbines scheduled for the first half of 2012. The Huron County Board of Commissioners has approved the creation of the Deerfield Energy Overlay District in the northeast portion of that county. Meanwhile, 63 proposed wind turbine sites in southeast Lenawee County have been ruled a presumed hazard by the FAA due to their proximity to the Toledo Express Airport. For more on proposed projects, see MPSC wind farm summary at www.tiny.cc/miwind.
12/15/2011
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
Valerie Brader, Governor Snyder’s new Chief Energy Policy Officer, has been on the job since September 12. This week she has been moved from offices at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to the Governor’s Office. A Harvard Law School graduate, her energy experience includes clients in the advanced battery industry, non-profits working on energy efficiency issues, and companies affected by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rulings. Although the Governor has previously stated he would announce his energy policy in the fall of 2011, Brader has indicated that because of her own late appointment this date has been pushed back to the first quarter of 2012. Two of her recently expressed concerns are energy prices and energy reliability. She has been quoted as saying: “The Governor wants an energy policy that is sustainable, as I said before, both economically and environmentally.”
12/12/2011
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
The Grand Valley State University Wind Sentinel wind data buoy was deployed to Lake Michigan from its initial Muskegon Lake location on November 4, and is now located four miles southwest of the Muskegon pierhead. With on-board power supplied by solar panels, a wind turbine, battery bank storage and a diesel generator (if needed), real time data is transmitted in ten-minute intervals to a dedicated computer server at the GVSU Padnos College of Engineering. Wind velocities are being measured at 55, 60, 90,110 and 120 meters at one second intervals. A sample reading indicates that at noon on November 17, wind velocities were respectively 9.8, 9.8, 10.6, 11.1, 10.6, and 10.5 meters per second. Data on thermo-fluid characteristics, wave and atmospheric conditions, as well as the presence of bird/bat activity are also being collected. The buoy will remain “on station” until mid-December when it will be brought to shore for winter storage. The Lake Michigan Offshore Wind Assessment Project continues to struggle with a funding shortfall caused by a court decision on MPSC grants, and future deployment remains uncertain.
12/2/2011
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
NextCAT, Inc, a Wayne State University startup company, has received a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research Award of $498,830 from the National Science Foundation. The goal of the company is to commercialize a catalyst that will cost effectively convert waste vegetable oil, animal fats, and residual corn oil into biodiesel fuel. Economic projections are that the catalyst would provide a production cost savings of at least one dollar per gallon, dramatically changing the economics of a biodiesel plant.
11/22/2011
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
Veolia Energy intends on using its investment in the Grand Rapids steam loop as a platform for other energy projects in the Great Lakes. It already monitors and manages a landfill gas project in Wisconsin from its downtown Grand Rapids control room. Now the company is pursuing coal or gasified cogeneration opportunities in Michigan and the Great Lake region, with healthcare facilities and college campuses as prime candidates. The company is also looking at wind and solar projects.
11/18/2011
by Varnum’s Battery Law Industry Group
Building on research that has found a way to amplify the magnetic effect of light waves millions of times, researchers at The University of Michigan hope to generate electricity from sunlight without semiconductors or photovoltaic panels. The researchers call the charge separation phenomenon an “optical battery.” The Department of Defense has already shown an interest in the research, and the search is on for a material that best captures the magnetic effect. The team is exploring both polymers and high-temperature transparent ceramics. In theory, this technology could be paired with PV panels positioned behind the magnetic field generator (since light energy will not be transformed by the magnetic field) to provide two sources of electric generation.
11/10/2011
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
State Senator Mike Nofs has commenced Energy and Technology Committee hearings on Public Act 295 of 2008. This statute, The Clean, Renewable, and Efficient Energy Act, set the renewable portfolio standard for Michigan at 10 percent by 2015. On October 4 testimony was presented by Consumers Energy, DSF Corporation, Michigan Electric Cooperative, Ventower Industries, Monroe Community College, Greater Gratiot Development Inc., Wind Resource, Dowding Industries, and 5 Lakes Energy. On October 11 testimony was heard from representatives of DTE, ITC, Michigan Electric and Gas Association, Dow Corning, Heritage Sustainable Energy, Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, Northern Power Systems, Michigan Environmental Council, Energetx Composites, Michigan Clean Water Action, Citizens for Wind Energy, Waste Management, and Wind on the Wires. More hearings are scheduled.
11/4/2011
by Bruce Goodman, Energy Lawyer
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is selling its Renewafuel operations near Marquette and returning its $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to Marquette County. The plant has been up and running, producing high-energy, low emission biofuel cubes from wood and agricultural feed stocks designed to help meet renewable portfolio standards and/or air emission limits. Before shutting down, the plant delivered its first supply of biofuel cubes in July to the Marquette Board of Light and Power as a coal substitute.
