Michigan Sustainable Energy Coalition
Vol. 2. No. 29 October 31, 2008
Executive Director’s Update:
To: MSEC Members
From: Andy Such, Executive Director
Successful “Boot Camp” on New Energy Laws
MSEC has been very busy since the passage of the new renewable energy laws in late September. We presented a two-day conference on implementation of the new law and began our efforts to work with the Michigan Public Service Commission on implementation of the new law. The conference was a cooperative effort with the MPSC. Over 80 people attended and by any measure it was a success. (See details below)
Skip Pruss Get a Promotion
Skipp Pruss, the Governor’s lead on the energy legislation has left to executive office to head the state department that will focus on energy and jobs. (See story below)
Cooley to Head NEXT Energy
Keith Cooley former Director of the Department of Labor and Economic Growth is leaving state government to head NEXT Energy in Detroit. He replaces Jim Croce who left NEXT Energy earlier this year (see story below)
MPSC Issues Orders
The Michigan Public Service Commission issued 131 orders to begin the implementation of the new energy laws. MSEC is planning to comment on some of these orders subject to approval by the Board of Directors.
What’s Next?
So, where do we go from here?
The direction will be up to your MSEC Board of Directors and you, the members of MSEC.
I think our work is just beginning with the passage of this legislation. There is the job of monitoring the activities of the MPSC regarding renewable energy and being involved in the implementation of the new laws.
We must exercise oversight there to make sure the things that were agreed to be actually implemented. We also need to keep legislators informed as to how the implementation of renewable energy is facilitated and suggest changes in the law when we feel they are needed.
General Membership & Board Meeting November 10
We will have a Board meeting on Monday November 10 at 12:00 noon followed by a General Membership meeting at 1:30pm. Both meetings will be at the Michigan Farm Bureau. I urge you to attend these important meetings and join the discussion.
If you have any questions please feel free to call.
Thanks. – Andy
MSEC presents “Boot Camp” Renewable Energy
The Michigan Sustainable Energy Coalition (MSEC) presented a very successful two day conference on Michigan’s new renewable energy laws last week. The two day conference was billed as “basic training” for the new law. The Fraser Trebilcock Law Firm co-sponsored the event.
The conference, the first of its kind dealing with the new law, examined the challenges and opportunities of Michigan’s recently passed Renewable Energy Laws Michigan’s new Renewable Energy laws offer new challenges and opportunities created with the passage of Michigan’s new renewable energy law (Senate Bill 213) in mid-September.
It was held Tuesday, October 21 and Wednesday, October 22 at the Holiday Inn South in Lansing. Over eighty people from a wide range of energy companies, utilities, regulators, attorneys and consultants attended the conference.
The Michigan Public Service Commission cooperated in presenting the conference. All three Michigan Public Service Commissioners addressed the attendees as well as key MPSC staff and other renewable energy experts.
The conference addressed a broad range of renewable energy opportunities and challenges including:
* The new 10% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) by 2015 will mean building more renewable facilities in Michigan. Learn about the yearly benchmarks, and the requirement for increased new renewable energy capacity. This will include what the utilities will be able to build and what they must purchase from Michigan sources.
* Energy Efficiency and Energy Optimization including load management. All providers including municipal and cooperative utilities will be required to file an “Energy Optimization Plan” with the Public Service Commission. Learn the obligations of companies served by these utilities and what these plans must include, how they are to be filed and what deadlines will be established.
* Net Metering provides an opportunity for small producers to sell power back to the utility. Learn how this program will work in Michigan as it is in a number of other states including the challenges and the opportunities of filing the application and the proper meter installation.
* Wind Energy Zones will be established. Learn what this will mean for Michigan businesses who want to build new wind facilities. The transmission of power from these new wind energy zones to the grid and what it may mean for your project will be discussed.
* Manufacturing and Production opportunities here in Michigan for, not only manufacturing the renewable energy, but also the components that go into renewable energy equipment including wind turbines, generators and other renewable energy equipment.
For more information on the conference and the Michigan Sustainable Energy Coalition log on to www.michigancleanenergy.com or contact Andy Such at ajsuch@michigancleanenerrgy.com
Skip Pruss to Head DELEG
Stanley “Skip” Pruss, will take over the new department Energy, Labor and Economic Growth. The department got a new name reflecting a new focus on energy, the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG). Pruss, who was Granholm’s right-hand man on the energy package, will be designated the Chief Energy Officer for the state of Michigan.
Keith Cooley the Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG) director since March 2007, is leaving to become CEO of NextEnergy in Detroit. (See story below)
“The target is job creation, securing investment,” Pruss said.
Senate Republicans had a different take about what the target of the changes were. The announcement comes after Granholm did an energy campaign event for Democratic nominee Barack Obama at Michigan State University last week.
“This is Granholm making her pitch for why she should be Cabinet Secretary for Energy,” said caucus spokesman Matt Marsden. “I’m not aware of any discussions she’s had with any members of the Legislature about this.”
Granholm Spokeswoman Liz Boyd said that was off-base.
“This is about one thing — growing our economy and creating jobs in this state,” she said. “The Governor is focused on the job she has.”
When asked if the DELEG idea was brought up during energy package negotiations, Pruss said that Granholm was looking at national models of how to best focus on energy. The department will house all activities related to renewable energy and energy efficiency in one department in an effort to grow the energy sector and create jobs in Michigan.
Pruss acknowledged that some states are ahead of Michigan in the energy game, as it was the 27th state to adopt a renewable portfolio standard (RPS). “We have ground to make up,” he said.
But he noted that Granholm has been “pushing alternative energy for a very long time.” He noted bright spots with new investments by Hemlock Semiconductor and United Solar Ovonics.
“The new energy economy is, singularly, Michigan’s greatest opportunity to create thousands of new jobs, attract new investment and diversify our economy,” Granholm said. “By consolidating the state’s energy efforts, we will create an efficient alignment of all the state’s tools and resources to focus with laser-like precision on leading the nation in the new evolving energy sectors.”
Pruss declined to answer if DLEG will employ new staff, but stressed this “isn’t creating a new department. We’ll do everything as economically and efficiently as possible.” DLEG has 4,000 employees and $1.3 billion budget. Pruss has to be confirmed by the Senate.
Pruss served as special advisor to the Governor on renewable energy and the environment. Prior to joining the executive office, he served as deputy director for the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), where he oversaw the environmental services and science, water quality, and land and water management divisions.
He began his 30-year tenure in state government as an assistant attorney general, ultimately serving as the assistant attorney general-in-charge of the Consumer Protection, Anti-Trust and Charitable Trust Division. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University School of Law and lives in St. Johns.
Granholm said the reorganization and the partnership with NextEnergy will allow the state to build strong, collaborative relationships with the private sector and state universities and community colleges, coordinate efforts across state government — eliminating redundancies and inefficiencies — and create new opportunities for our research and development centers.
The reorganization will include the No Worker Left Behind green jobs training initiatives; Michigan’s new energy efficiency building code; the Public Service Commission and energy efficiency programs; the Office of Sustainability; the Renewable Fuels Commission; and the State Energy Office, all working in tandem with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s (MEDC) tax incentives and attraction efforts.
Another goal of the department would be to help spur advanced technology development, such as the coming plug-in hybrid known as the Chevy Volt.
Under the executive order, DELEG will take over renewable fuels development and “greening” programs like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which assists communities in fostering environmentally sustainable construction. Those programs have been the respective responsibility of the departments of Agriculture and Environmental Quality (DEQ).
Executive Order 2008-20 stands unless rejected by the state Senate and House of Representatives. It takes effect Dec. 28.
Keith Cooley to head NEXT Energy
Keith Cooley, former Director of the Department of Labor and Economic will be the new CEO of NEXT Energy. He replaces Jim Croce who left earlier this year.
At a news conference announcing the reorganization of the department Governor Granholm praised Cooley: “Keith Cooley has provided important leadership in helping our economic plan benefit from channeling both the quality of our workforce and the demand to new workforce development initiatives, such as No Worker Left Behind,” Granholm said.
Cooley stepped into the DLEG void after Lansing Community College head Paula Cunningham accepted the job and then had to back out, as her contract forbade her from coming on board. She was to replace David Hollister.
“Keith’s NextEnergy appointment will allow us to seize the opportunities available in the private energy sector. And no one is more capable of being the state’s chief energy officer than Skip Pruss, who knows more about the future of this sector than most anyone in the state.”
Cooley previously was CEO of Focus: HOPE, a Detroit civil and human rights organization. In 1997, Cooley founded Principia, Inc., a consulting company dedicated to helping organizations manage crisis and critical change. He later joined Motorola Corp. as Director, Telematics International Sales, GM account, in 2001.
Cooley began his professional career in 1968 as an experimental physicist with General Electric Corp. He joined General Motors in 1972 as a project engineer, rising to engineering director for Cadillac Motor Division in 1985 and Director, Strategic Planning, for the GM Corporate Communications Staff in 1994.
MSEC Meetings
The MSEC Board of Directors will meet on Monday, November 10, 2008 at 12:00 noon at the Michigan Farm Bureau Offices at 7373 West Saginaw in Lansing.
The General Membership Meeting will follow at 1:30pm at the Michigan Farm Bureau offices.
Legislative Meetings
House Meetings Scheduled (Includes House and Joint Committees)
Energy and Technology (11/6/2008)
Energy and Technology (11/12/2008) Cancelled
New Economy and Quality of Life (11/6/2008)
Senate Meetings Scheduled (Includes Senate and Joint Committees)
Senate Fiscal Agency Board of Governors (11/13/2008)
MSEC Website
The MSEC website address is: www.michigancleanenergy.com Please take a look and tell your colleagues who are not members of MSEC that they can join on line.
If you have any information for the site, or would like to help, contact Andy Such at: ajsuch@comcast.net Thanks again to Rich Vander Veen and the folks at Mackinaw Power for their support of the MSEC website.
NOTE: Any comments, suggestions or questions on this newsletter should be directed to Andy Such, Executive Director at 517-202-1786 or ajsuch@comcast.net
For more information contact:
Michigan Sustainable Energy Coalition
124 West Allegan, Suite 1210
Lansing, MI 48933
517-202-1786