Renewable Energy Standard

Tags: consumers, energy, mec, Renewable Energy, Renewable Energy Standard

This press release was sent out by the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC) today in response to Consumer Energy's recent statements on renewable energy. The MEC is a coalition of more than 70 organizations, including the Michigan LCV Education Fund, that was created in 1980 to lead Michigan’s environmental movement in achieving positive change through the political process. You can find them at www.environmentalcouncil.org or on their blog at www.michigandistilled.org.

Tags: environmental leaders, Pure Michigan, PWIR, Renewable Energy Standard, yard waste ban

Pure Michigan ads will begin running nationally this week, complete with the stunning vistas we all love. At the same time, though, the Legislature is passing a bill to bankrupt the composting business here and overstuff our landfills. It's a great example of how Pure Michigan needs to be the model of how we act, not just how we advertise. We're also trying to attract tourists from out-of-state, not trash, which this bill could actually encourage. Is that the “Pure Michigan” we want visitors to find when they visit this summer?

Tags: Chris Christie, gogebic taconite, great lakes compact, ohio, PWIR, Renewable Energy Standard, water diversion, Wisconsin mining

We live in a peninsular state, and sometimes it seems like the Great Lakes can insulate us from what happens in the rest of the country. It is those very lakes, though, which sometimes connect us, more than anything else, to what happens in other states. 

Tags: 2012 ballot initiative, Michigan, Renewable Energy Standard

When I flip the light switch to illuminate my living room, do I ever take a moment to think about where that electrical energy comes from? Hardly ever. But do I care? Absolutely.

Tags: climate change, fuel efficiency standards, Michigan, mild winter, Renewable Energy Standard

A few weeks ago, the groundhog saw his shadow and we were told to expect six more weeks of winter, to which I replied, "what winter?" 

Tags: living legacy program, mercury emissions, presidential primary, PWIR, Renewable Energy Standard, transportation bill

Two things stand out in this week's political review: Wind is cheaper than expected and getting cheaper but coal, on the other hand, is more expensive than ever.

Tags: EIBC, fracking, Keystone XL, LCV Scorecard, PWIR, Renewable Energy Standard

Democracy is all about citizens controlling their own destiny. The underlying assumption in a democracy, of course, is that the citizens are informed on the decisions they make. 

Tags: asian carp, Great Lakes, PWIR, Renewable Energy, Renewable Energy Standard

Finally! Thanks to the Great Lakes Commission, we finally have a gameplan on how to restore

Tags: 25 by 25, benishek, jean klock park, PWIR, Renewable Energy Standard

The conservation movement in this country began with the idea that natural areas should be preserved and accessible to the public for outdoor recreation. That idea took a big hit this week in Michigan when the United States Court of Appeals allowed Jean Klock Park in Benton Harbor to be converted into a private golf course, largely depriving citizens of access to the Lake Michigan sand dunes they’ve enjoyed for generations. 

In this week’s PWIR: 

Tags: Ballot Initiative, Energy Independence, Jobs, Renewable Energy, Renewable Energy Standard

On Friday, the Michigan Board of Canvassers gave the official go-ahead to begin circulating petitions for a new ballot initiative that will increase Michigan's renewable energy standard to 25% by 2025. Effectively, this means that 25% of all energy used in Michigan must be derived from renewable sources. The highlights can be found here.