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 The economic benefits of alternative energy have united at least some bipartisan political groups to push for a stricter Michigan renewable energy mandate.
Without any overarching energy plan, Gov. Rick Snyder remains on the sidelines, but his energy czar Valerie Brader said Snyder plans a "special message" to address energy planning later this year.
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Rather than get sent to rot in a landfill, about 100,000 tons of food processing waste will be converted into electricity once Michigan's first large-scale biodigester comes online this summer.
Construction on the $22 million Fremont Community Digester and electric generator is just now wrapping up, and testing at the facility should begin in a matter of months.
The project's developer, NOVI Energy, also signed a $55 million agreement with Consumers Energy to purchase approximately 380,000 megawatt-hours or 19,000 MWh per year of electricity from the plant over the next 20 years. The deal marks the first time the utility will buy energy made from food processing waste.
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 LOWELL — A startup in Lowell hopes to prove that one firm’s waste is another company’s power.
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WEST MICHIGAN — The Ann Arbor-based Clean Energy Coalition wants Michigan to be prepared for more electric vehicles on the road.
Working with a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the coalition along with several other partners — including Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities and NextEnergy — are putting together a statewide electric vehicle preparedness plan.
The plan launched in December, and CEC is coordinating with several municipalities to assess issues with building codes, permitting, zoning and a number of other logistical factors.
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 MUSKEGON — When light excavation started outside Every Woman’s Place, neighbors phoned to ask whether the shelter was getting an addition.
When EWP’s staff of 50 moves into the recently donated Parmenter O’Toole Law Building, the shelter interior will be remodeled to accommodate more women and children who are homeless or fleeing domestic violence. But the construction that neighbors were noticing is a 300-panel, 70-kilowatt, ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system that should provide about 40 percent of the shelter’s energy.
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LANSING – A new statewide coalition aims to make its case to legislators on a familiar issue: electric utility competition.
Energy Choice Now formed last August to encourage the State Legislature to pass bills raising the cap on electric suppliers in the state and effectively create more competition for the regulated monopolies — and in theory, at least, reduce costs for ratepayer.
Former State Senator Wayne Kuipers of Holland heads the organization.
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LANSING — Michigan clean energy businesses continue to build support for renewable energy development, as evidenced by the formation of a new group, the Energy Innovation Business Council, announced on Feb. 8 at an event at the Capitol building.
Speakers from Astraeus Wind Energy Inc., The Dow Chemical Company and LED Optical Solutions were on hand to discuss the particulars of Michigan’s growing advanced energy industry. The EIBC plans to work with the public and policymakers to push Michigan’s clean energy economy.
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 GRAND RAPIDS — Many business owners support renewable energy but either cannot afford to install the systems or are not allowed to do so because of local regulations.
Even with onsite renewable energy installations off the table, people still have secondary ways to support other projects by purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) or carbon offsets, two very different options.
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 MUSKEGON — Michigan wants to put its foot on the gas when it comes to helping small businesses developing advanced technologies, particularly in energy.
In a statewide effort, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the Michigan Small Business Technology Development Center have partnered to facilitate the Business Accelerator Fund.
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Biodiesel has become one of the fastest-growing alternative fuels on the market, mostly due to its usefulness as an alternative to petroleum-based diesel.
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