MEECA News June 1, 2018

MEECA Event Highlights The Whitney Restaurant’s Recent EE Makeover
Image: Jim Newman of Newman Consulting Group, LLC describes The Whitney’s recent EE renovation.
On May 10th MEECA hosted a reception at The Whitney, a National Historic Landmark on Woodward Avenue in downtown Detroit. Nearly forty people gathered to network with fellow energy efficiency professionals. They also learned about the 120-year-old building’s recent renovation featuring multiple energy-saving measures. Click here to read more about this successful MEECA program.
Special thanks to our sponsors for this event: Dustmen Electric LLC, Midwest Illumination, and Carter Mechanical!

EE Industry News
Michigan’s Utility Ratepayers to Receive Over $50 MillionThe Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has approved settlement agreements with multiple utility companies to pass on to ratepayers their savings from the federal tax law rewrite, beginning in July. The federal Tax Cut and Jobs Act reduced the corporate rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and made other changes to tax rules. Read more about this development.
U.P. Program to Help Businesses Save EnergyThe Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR) has received a grant to help businesses identify opportunities to reduce costs with energy efficiency. This grant will pay up to 75 percent of the cost of commercial energy audits and assessments to help local businesses identify opportunities to reduce energy expenses and target resources to pay for energy waste reduction investments. More information about this program and the recent U.P. Energy Summit can be found at this link.
Going Green is Harder for Detroit’s Low Income CommunitiesLearn more here about a recent study by University of Michigan researchers about the availability of cost-effective LEDs to low-income residents of Detroit. Survey results of 130 stores in Wayne County show that LEDs cost more in the highest-poverty areas of the City.
Michigan Agency for Energy Sees Increased Demand for Electricity, Natural GasThe Michigan Agency for Energy (MAE) has released its annual Summer Energy Appraisal. The forecast includes up to 1.5 percent higher demand for electricity over last year, and a rise in natural gas demand of 8 percent. Learn more and find a link to the official report here.
Michigan Agribusinesses Enjoyed Significant Energy Savings in 2017Michigan farmers and agribusinesses saved more than $1.7 million in 2017 by taking advantage of multiple energy efficiency measures available from Consumers Energy for agricultural users. These included grain dryer heat recovery retrofits, spectrum shifting poultry LED lighting and cold storage facility efficiency measures. Visit this link to learn more.
DTE Energy to Sell “Green Bonds”DTE Energy is offering $525 million in “green bonds,” which are bonds to finance environmentally-friendly energy investments, like low-carbon, renewable, and energy efficient projects. See links to a press release and article.
Changing EE Standards Affect Energy ConsumptionFederal legislation passed in the 1970s and 1980s and updated in subsequent decades established mandatory federal minimum energy efficiency standards for equipment and appliances in buildings. Click here for information about the impacts of varying energy efficiency policies on end-use consumption, including what could happen under current laws and what might happen if energy efficiency policies were made more or less stringent.

Public Policy Update
Public Hearing Scheduled for Code of Conduct RulesThe Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has issued an order in docket number U-18361 to set the public hearing and comment period on the proposed Code of Conduct rules. This issue is important to MEECA members as it addresses value-added programs undertaken by unregulated affiliates of investor owned utility companies in Michigan. Learn more about how MEECA will be engaging.
Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) Low-Income WorkgroupThe recently formed EWR Low Income Low Income Workgroup has met twice. To read more about its priorities and how to participate in upcoming meetings, visit this link.

Upcoming Events and Deadlines
For links to more information about the following calendar items, click here.

Advanced energy networking reception                                           Monday, June 11, 2018                                                                       CLEAResult offices in Detroit

 EWR Low Income Workgroup Meeting                                         Thursday, June 14, 2018                                                                              MPSC office in Lansing

 Public hearing on Code of Conduct draft rulesFriday,                       June 15, 2018                                                                                                     MPSC office in Lansing

Reaching for Zero summit promoting adoption of net zero energy buildings                                                                                                Wednesday, June 20, 2018                                                                      Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo

Michigan Clean Energy Conference & Expo                                           June 21-23, 2018                                                                                         Traverse City, MI

Building Operator Certification (BOC) Level I Classes                  Begins Tuesday, June 26, 2018                                                                    Troy, MI (Veterans eligible for tuition discounts)

 U.S. DOE’s 2018 National Energy Codes Conference                           July 15-17, 2018                                                                                                Austin, TX

 MEECA 2nd Annual Summer Golf Outing                                   Wednesday, July 18, 2018                                                                              Bath, MI

 EWR Low Income Workgroup Meeting                                         Thursday, July 26, 2018                                                                                 MPSC office in Lansing

Michigan Saves Contractor Breakfast
Friday, August 10, 2018
Muskegon, MI

ASHRAE Commercial Code Training                                                Tuesday, August 14, 2018                                                                             Grand Rapids, MI

 


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