John Farrell is a researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. He recently wrote this commentary for Minnesota Public Radio on how local communities in the Midwest can begin to take control of their energy futures.
"State policies to support local ownership can triple or quadruple the economic benefits of their wind resource. Energy efficiency standards can [...]
February 26, 2010 – 3:19 pm
There was one thing that everyone agreed on at last night's forum at the City Opera House: Traverse City Light and Power's goal to have 30 percent local, renewable energy sources by 2020 (billed as 30x20) is a great thing.
There was unanimous consent for 30x20, praise for TC L&P's leadership role on this issue, and [...]
February 24, 2010 – 2:23 pm
Traverse City Light and Power's (TC L&P) proposed Biomass plant has caused hundreds of people to begin to investigate whether Biomass is right for Northern Michigan.
TC L&P has the ambitious goal of having 30% of their energy production come from renewable energy sources by 2020. That is higher than the mandate Lansing issued regarding new [...]
February 19, 2010 – 10:54 am
The question of using biomass as an energy source for Northern Michigan has drawn a lot of attention so far as Traverse City Light and Power (TC L&P) considers adding it to its energy portfolio.
Not sure what Biomass is? Want to become an involved participant in what energy sources TC L&P uses? You now have [...]
February 11, 2010 – 4:14 pm
On Feb 18, the Grand Vision Energy Working Group will host an energy forum on saving energy and reducing greenhouse gases.
The featured speaker will be David Konkle, who is the municipal training director for the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). There will also be presentations from four Grand Vision working groups: Energy, Transportation, [...]
January 28, 2010 – 3:55 pm
There has been quite a bit of wind energy news in the headlines the past week. Here is a quick round-up:
VIDEO: A forum on the potential wind farm on Lake Michigan near Ludington was attended by roughly 500 people.
7&4 News has this report and 9&10 News filed this report on the forum.
The Record-Eagle has this [...]
January 20, 2010 – 1:57 pm
Last night (Jan 19), the Grand Vision Energy Working Group held the first of five forums on energy goals and strategies developed to implement the Grand Vision.
Roughly fifty people attended the event that focused on the first energy goal: Energy Efficiency, which is to "Maximize energy efficiency and conservation to the greatest extent practical across [...]
December 11, 2009 – 1:14 pm
In a news release, Traverse City Light & Power has announced a 20-year deal with Heritage Stoney Corners Wind Farm I, LLC. The deal is for 10 Megawatts (MW) of electrical power that is generated by five wind turbines at a wind farm near McBain:
The utility will purchase all power and renewable energy credits [...]
December 10, 2009 – 8:00 am
As the world discusses Climate Change in Copahagen, nine students and three professors from the University of Michigan have joined them.
And Michigan State University announced that their Associate Professor of Economics Jinhua Zhao has been appointed to a three-year term on the Environmental Economics Advisory Committee of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board. Zhao [...]
December 4, 2009 – 2:06 pm
That was the topic on IPR's Point's North Friday morning (Dec. 4) as two board members from TCLP discussed moving the community-owned municipal utility towards renewable energy sources.
IPR has a rebroadcast of the program at 9pm on Friday or you can follow this link to listen to the hour long program through the IPR website.
Photo: [...]
