Gov. Rick Snyder has laid out his vision for a “no regrets” energy future by 2025, calling for an emphasis on eliminating energy waste and replacing coal with newer, cleaner technologies – natural gas and renewables. “Michigan needs an energy policy that ensures we can be adaptable, have energy that is reliable and affordable, and protect our environment,” he said. Snyder’s report laid out [...]
Cloverland Electric Cooperative announced that the Michigan Public Service Commission has approved a rate settlement reached between the cooperative, public service commission staff and the City of Mackinac Island, an intervenor in the rate case. The approved $2 million or approximately 2.4 percent increase is about half of the amount requested by the cooperative in its August 2013 rate filing. In May 2010, the [...]
We Energies and Wolverine Power Cooperative announced today the two companies have decided to end their joint venture at the Presque Isle Power Plant. The joint venture would have resulted in joint ownership of the plant by We Energies and Wolverine along with the installation of state-of-the-art emission controls. “Since the time we first agreed that joint ownership of the plant would be beneficial [...]
Wolverine Power Cooperative announced it is ending development of the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture (WCEV) near Rogers City. Proposed in 2006, the WCEV was comprised of a baseload power plant and wind turbine farm. “I am very proud of our efforts on the WCEV,” said Eric D. Baker, president and chief executive officer of Wolverine. “The WCEV project team worked diligently to develop a [...]
Great Lakes Energy members will soon vote on amendments to the co-op’s bylaws that would allow the board of directors to be elected by district. Starting in 2014, the change would involve electing directors from nine geographic districts to create a more equal representation throughout the co-op’s 26-county service area. Currently, nine directors are elected “at-large”, which means they can reside anywhere within the [...]
After gathering input from member co-op CEOs and communications professionals, the MECA communications team is moving forward with updates to Michigan Country Lines magazine. "A recent survey showed that 38 percent of new co-op members don't read the publication because they don't understand its purpose," says Casey Clark, director of communications and marketing. "The co-ops are asking MECA to help redefine the publication's purpose, [...]
The process established by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2012 to obtain input from interested parties on energy policy has been completed and will result in an energy address from Snyder this month. The series of four policy reports on Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Customer Choice and Additional Areas, can be accessed at michigan.gov/energy. On behalf of its member co-ops, MECA has filed or joined [...]
Tom Sobeck, CFO for Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op in Onaway, was recently elected mayor of Rogers City, MI. An incumbent city councilman, the Presque Isle County Advance newspaper reports that Sobeck outpaced a strong field of candidates by receiving 40.72 percent of the 921 votes cast. "I am humbled by the level of support the citizens of Rogers City have shown me [...]
The Michigan Electric Cooperative Association (MECA) is seeking a part-time Communications Specialist to aid communications efforts for its three electric co-ops based in the U.P. (Alger Delta, Cloverland Electric, and Ontonagon County REA) by writing, researching and coordinating select communications content. Must be able to travel throughout the U.P. and commit to spending 1 to 3 days per month at each of the three [...]
Every dairy cow carries an energy price tag. Farmers pump water—and $2.6 billion in energy dollars—to boost crops. At the end of the day, energy, both direct and indirect, accounts for 13 percent of production expenses on an average farm, so it makes sense that more farmers are turning to energy efficiency to help their bottom lines. Electricity powers a farm’s heating (water, space, [...]
