Michigan Public Service Commission Chair Sally Talberg told a meeting of the Michigan Senate Energy and Technology Committee last week that Michigan “would be dark” if the state does not pass legislation to address capacity and reliability issues. Talberg reviewed the Commission’s most recent five-year outlook, and told Committee members that by 2018 there may not be enough surplus energy in the Midcontinent Independent Service Operator (MISO) region to meet Michigan’s demands, due to the retirement of a number of older coal-fired plants.
Despite this testimony, not everyone was convinced. Sen. Mike Shirkey (R-Clarklake), a longtime supporter of retail open access, claimed the MPSC report was “ripe with people cherry picking pieces of information and then reframing them to advance their narrative.” The five-year outlook noted that Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is not expected to fall short on minimum reliability standards “for the foreseeable future.”
Committee members also signed off on the appointment of Rachel Eubanks to fill the remainder of MPSC Commissioner John Quackenbush’s term. Eubanks was the director of public finance for Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc, where she worked on municipal bond issues.
With only a few more scheduled session days in the year, Michigan EIBC will continue to pay attention to the legislative and regulatory discussion and keep you apprised.
Michigan Businesses Unite to Accelerate Advanced Energy Procurement
A group of leading companies headquartered in Michigan including General Motors (GM), Crystal Mountain, the Dow Chemical Company and Steelcase has established the Corporate Purchasers Roundtable to facilitate the expanded use of advanced energy resources among businesses and large energy users. The Corporate Purchasers Roundtable – spearheaded by Michigan EIBC – is focused specifically on identifying pathways that increase corporate advanced energy procurement in Michigan.
“The Corporate Purchasers Roundtable gives us a platform to drive market growth through utility engagement and policy and regulatory changes to unlock the benefits of advanced energy in Michigan,” said Rob Threlkeld, Global Manager for Renewable Energy at General Motors. “GM is interested in adding more advanced energy to its energy mix because it makes good business sense.”
According to a new Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) report by Meister Consultants Group, Inc. entitled Opportunities to Increase Corporate Access to Advanced Energy: A National Brief, Michigan ranks seventh for highest potential demand for corporate renewable energy nationally with an estimated potential of 12,300 megawatts (MW). In its first action, the Corporate Purchasers Roundtable filed comments in an MPSC proceeding involving DTE Energy’s proposal to establish a voluntary renewable energy pilot program.
Source: MIEIBC