Renewable Energy
Still Time to Register for Michigan Photo Contest
Send us your picture at http://www.ThisIsMyMichigan.com.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In the “This is My Michigan” online photo contest, your picture could be worth $1,000. But you have to hurry, the contest ends June 3.
To celebrate the state we live and work in, the Consumers Energy Green Generation team is sponsoring the statewide contest for its residential and business customers 13 years or older. A total of 20 prizes will be awarded, including a Michigan vacation; nine $1,000 Gift of Energy cards, and ten $1,000 ENERGY STAR® appliance gift cards.
From sunsets and coastlines to backyards and bonfires, show us what you love about our great state. You can even submit pictures from your smartphone or Facebook account. Register today at www.ThisIsMyMichigan.com.
“At Consumers Energy, part of building a sustainable energy future for Michigan includes supporting the communities we serve in big ways and small, and this contest does just that,” said Green Generation Program Manager Thomas Shirilla.
What you need to you know about the contest:
- Photo entries from Michigan residents 13 years and older can be uploaded online at: www.ThisIsMyMichigan.com through June 3.
- Consumers Energy’s Green Generation program will plant one tree for every completed contest registration, up to 5,000 trees.
- Consumers Energy customers who register on the website, complete trivia questions and vote will be eligible to win additional prizes.
- June 4-10 the top 10 finalists will be selected based on creativity, quality of submission and best fit to theme.
- Public voting from June 11 through July 8 will help determine the Grand Prize photo winner, which will be announced on July 12.
Consumers Energy’s Green Generation program helps reduce dependence on traditional energy sources and preserves our natural resources for future generations. Supply for the Green Generation program is Michigan-made, with renewable energy supply coming from wind and landfill gas sources. Green Generation was launched in 2005, and currently has nearly 17,000 customers enrolled in the program. For more information go to www.greengeneration.com.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( Comments Off )Consumers Energy Unveils “This is My Michigan” Green Generation Photo Contest
PHOTO CONTEST: Share your photo at http://www.ThisIsMyMichigan.com
Spectacular Michigan sunsets. Breathtaking views of the Great Lakes. Camping and bonfires with family and friends. Enjoying one of Michigan’s premier golf courses. Consumers Energy wants you to show us your Michigan by sharing a photo of what you love about our Great State. You could win big in the “This is My Michigan” Green Generation photo contest from May 1 through June 3.
“This creative photo contest is a win-win for all,” said Tom Shirilla, Consumers Energy Green Generation program manager. “Participants can win great prizes and promote the beauty of the Great Lakes State by sharing their favorite Michigan image or moment, while Consumers Energy will support the community by planting a tree for the first 5,000 registrations.”
Details of the contest include the following:
-
Photo entries from Michigan residents 13 years and older can be uploaded
online at: www.ThisIsMyMichigan.com from May 1 through June 3. -
Consumers Energy’s Green Generation program will plant one tree for every
completed contest registration, up to 5,000 trees. -
A total of 20 prizes will be awarded, including a Michigan vacation; $1,000 Gift
of Energy cards, and $1,000 ENERGY STAR appliance gift cards. -
Those Consumers Energy customers who register on the website, complete
trivia questions and vote will be eligible to win prizes. -
June 4-10 the top 10 finalists will be selected based on creativity, quality of
submission and best fit to theme. -
Public voting from June 11 through July 8 will help determine the Grand Prize
photo winner, which will be announced July 12.
“At Consumers Energy, part of building a sustainable energy future for Michigan includes supporting the communities we serve in big ways and small, and this contest does just that,” added Shirilla.
Consumers Energy’s Green Generation program helps reduce dependence on traditional energy sources and preserves our natural resources for future generations. Supply for the Green Generation program is Michigan-made, with renewable energy coming from wind and landfill gas sources. Green Generation was launched in 2005, and currently has nearly 17,000 customers enrolled in the program. For more information go to www.greengeneration.com
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( Comments Off )Solar Projects Selected for Consumers Energy Renewable Program
Consumers Energy has selected 13 residential customers to provide solar energy in Michigan.
Solar projects planned by 13 residential customers have been selected to move forward as part of Consumers Energy’s ongoing implementation of Michigan’s energy reform law.
The random-selection process for these qualified applicants is part of the utility’s Experimental Advanced Renewable Program. The program provides for the long-term purchase of renewable energy generated by solar energy systems owned by the utility’s electric customers.
Residential customer-initiated solar projects in 10 Lower Peninsula counties were selected during this phase of the program. The residential customer projects will be located in the following counties: Arenac, Benzie, Calhoun, Genesee, Hillsdale, Jackson, Leelanau, Montcalm, Ogemaw and Saginaw. The customer-owned projects range in electricity capacity from 1 kilowatt to 20 kilowatts.
Consumers Energy will also be conducting an information session on April 2, 2013 at Grand Valley State University for anyone interested in learning about customer-installed solar energy systems. The session will be held at the Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon. The session is free of charge, open to the public and will take place from 5:30 PM until 8:30 PM.
Speakers during the session will provide information on how customers can install their own solar energy systems as part of Consumers Energy’s Experimental Advanced Renewable Program (EARP), enabled by Michigan’s energy reform law. Reservations for this session and information about the program are available at http://www.consumersenergy.com/EARP.
This session will begin two new phases of the program and will begin accepting applications from electric non-residential and residential customers on April 1, 2013. Applications will be due May 8, 2013.
Consumers Energy’s program currently has contracts in place to purchase renewable energy from 181 customer-owned solar generators as part of the utility’s renewable energy plan.
More information on the Experimental Advanced Renewable Program is available at: http://www.consumersenergy.com/EARP
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( Comments Off )Consumers Energy’s First Wind Park Begins Serving Customers
Consumers Energy’s $250 million Lake Winds Energy Park began serving electric customers on Thanksgiving Day with a formal declaration that it has begun commercial operation.
Lake Winds is Consumers Energy’s first wind park and has a generating capacity of 100 megawatts. It consists of 56 wind-generation turbines, all located in Riverton and Summit townships in Mason County. The utility’s investment in Lake Winds was made possible by Michigan’s landmark energy reform law.
“Consumers Energy thanks Mason County and area governmental officials in particular, for making today’s ‘start-up’ possible. Construction of Lake Winds honored our company’s commitments to safety and good communication with area residents,” said Bill Schoenlein, manager of hydro and renewable generation for Consumers Energy. White Construction Inc. was the lead contractor for the Lake Winds facility. More information on Lake Winds is available at www.lakewindsenergypark.com
Consumers Energy is the largest supplier of renewable energy in Michigan. The utility is on track to meet a requirement in Michigan’s energy law that by 2015,10 percent of the electricity it provides to its 1.8 million electric customers will come from renewable sources in the state.
“Completion of this project puts Consumers Energy on its way to meeting the 2015 requirement. The addition of Lake Winds to the company’s portfolio of renewable sources increases its renewable supply to 7 percent of retail sales. The completion of other projects under development will increase our renewable supply to 8 percent by the end of 2012,” said David Ronk, Consumers Energy’s director for transactions and resource planning.
For more information about Consumers Energy, visit www.consumersenergy.com/newgeneration
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( Comments Off )Survey on Regional Energy Plan for Northwest Michigan
The Grand Vision Energy Network invites you to take a 12-minute online survey to help develop a regional energy plan for Northwest Michigan.
The Grand Vision has brought together more than 12,000 citizens who care about the quality of life in Northwest Michigan. One of the outcomes of this work has been the creation of the Grand Vision Energy Network comprised of individuals, businesses, non-profits, and local units of government that are currently working toward developing a regional energy plan.
Please help guide a shared energy future by completing the survey…in just 12 minutes. To thank you for your time, The Grand Vision Energy Network offers you the option of entering a sweepstakes to win a Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa Season Ski or Golf Pass.
To complete the survey, please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EnergyNetwork.
The main goal of the Energy Network can be summed up in one word – education. The aim is to educate the citizens of northwest lower Michigan on a wide variety of energy topics so they can make informed decisions about the region’s energy future and their own personal energy choices. Energy is responsible for our quality of life in Michigan and these issues affect every one of us. The Energy Network consistently offers a chance for people to involve and educate themselves on these issues through meetings, outreach and other events.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( Comments Off )Consumers Energy Honors Five Channels Hydro with Ethics Grand Prize
Five Channels Hydro began operating on the Au Sable River in 1912 and generates up to 6,000 kilowatts of renewable energy.
Employees at the Five Channels Hydroelectric Dam near Mio recently won the grand prize in Consumers Energy’s companywide “Ethics in Action” awards program that recognizes groups of employees who collectively display the highest commitment to compliance and ethical standards.
Five Channels management and several employees were honored at an Oct. 18 ceremony in East Lansing. The facility also earned the opportunity to select a local nonprofit organization to receive a $5,000 grant from the company.
“Giving back is a major component of what it means to function as a highly ethical company,” said David Mengebier, chief compliance officer for Consumers Energy and its parent company, CMS Energy.
The Five Channels dam, which began operating on the Au Sable River in 1912, contributes to Consumers Energy’s renewable energy portfolio by generating up to 6,000 kilowatts of electricity. This hydro is named for the nearby location on the Au Sable River where there were once five distinct river channels. The site of the workers’ camp built to support construction of the dam was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 2002. It is an early American example of incorporating worker safety and health provisions into construction site living, drawing heavily on lessons learned in the building of the Panama Canal.
In addition to the Five Channels facility, Consumers Energy honored two facilities — the North Kent (Sparta) and Macomb (Clinton Twp.) service centers — as runners-up. Those facilities will identify local nonprofit organizations to receive $1,000 grants. Nine individual CMS Energy employees also were recognized.
“It’s critical to recognize employees whose decisions — often under difficult circumstances — help promote a strong culture of ethics and compliance,” said Mengebier. “Their courage and integrity embody the values that have served our company well for the past 125 years.”
Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
For more information regarding Consumers Energy, visit us at: www.consumersenergy.com or join us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( Comments Off )Michigan Children Create 2013 Safety Calendar
One of several drawings submitted by Michigan children and included in the 2013 Consumers Energy Safety Calendar.
Artwork submitted by students from across the state is featured in the company’s annual safety calendar.
Students provided the interpretive drawing of safety tips they learned at home or at school through the “Respect the Flags” and “Hazard Hamlet” education programs.
We extend many thanks to the students and schools that participated and submitted more than 2,000 drawings for consideration. We truly appreciate local schools inviting us to share our free education programs with students and teachers. We look forward to working with you in the future. For details, please contact us at education@ConsumersEnergy.com.
Download a copy of the calendar and check out our other activities such as safety coloring templates, treasure hunt, energy word puzzles and online games. Check out Brain Station at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/kids.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( Comments Off )Proposal 3 – Bad for Customers, Bad for Michigan
A message from David Mengebier, Senior Vice President of Governmental and Public Affairs and Chief Compliance Officer:
Amid the noise surrounding the fast-approaching Nov. 6 general election, messages can get muddled.
You might have seen television commercials opposing Proposal 3, the ballot proposal that would amend Michigan’s constitution and require the state to draw 25 percent of its electric supply from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2025.
As part of a broad-based coalition formed to fight Proposal 3, Consumers Energy helps fund those ads because it opposes this harmful proposal. At the same time, perhaps you’ve seen or heard us publicly tout our efforts to supply customers with more renewable energy.
Logically, you may wonder: Does Consumers Energy support renewable energy or not? We do!
Let me be clear: Renewable energy is good for Michigan in the right places and in the right increments.
But we oppose Proposal 3.
Let me tell you why:
- The cost burden is too heavy for our customers. They would pay an estimated $12 billion to meet this mandate, driving up bills for years to come.
- Michigan already has a reasonable, affordable 10 percent renewable energy goal. Consumers Energy, the state’s largest supplier of renewable energy at 5 percent, is on track to meet that mark, in large part because of the two wind farms we’re developing. Our state should reach the 10 percent standard before reassessing its future energy needs.
- The constitution is the wrong place for this mandate. Locking it into the constitution would eliminate the flexibility to meet unforeseen challenges and changes in the state’s energy market.
Proposal 3 isn’t realistic or reasonable. Unfortunately, it’s nothing more than a thinly disguised political campaign mounted by out-of-state special interests groups to advance their national policy agenda at the expense of Michigan electric customers. In fact, according to campaign finance reports filed with Michigan’s Secretary of State, nearly 90 percent of the money to advocate for Proposal 3 comes from outside our state.
That’s why I plan to vote NO on Proposal 3. I hope you will do the same and encourage your friends and neighbors to oppose Proposal 3.
In roughly one month, the election noise will die down. Until then, please remember: Consumers Energy supports renewable energy BUT we oppose Proposal 3.
We’re far from alone. The company is part of Clean Affordable Renewable Energy (CARE) for Michigan, which also includes the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan State Utility Workers Council and many others.
Please visit http://careformich.com/take-action/page/join-care-consumers to join the CARE coalition as an individual. That’s where you also can find the latest news about Proposal 3, get help writing letters to the editor of your local newspaper, and get involved in the campaign against the measure.
Paid for with regulated funds by Consumers Energy Company, One Energy Plaza, Jackson, MI 49201. Consumers Energy Company customer funds are not being used to oppose Proposal 3.
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( Comments Off )Irwin Seating Company Receives “Green Generation Customer of the Year” Award
As a result of its outstanding support for renewable energy in Michigan, Irwin Seating Company in Grand Rapids has been
awarded the “Green Generation Customer of the Year” award from Consumers Energy. The Green Generation program provides our customers an opportunity to voluntarily demonstrate their support for renewable energy in Michigan.
Irwin Seating Company purchases nearly 700,000 kilowatt-hours annually of Michigan-based renewable energy for its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility in Grand Rapids. Since joining the Green Generation program in 2006, the company has purchased more than 4 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy. Irwin Seating is the largest participating manufacturer in the Green Generation program in Michigan and is the third-largest overall participant.
“Irwin Seating Company is proud of its long history of environmental responsibility, and is happy to have the opportunity to partner with Consumers Energy’s Green Generation program,” said Win Irwin, President and CEO of Irwin Seating Company.
“We commend Irwin Seating Company for its leadership and commitment to Michigan‘s environment through its voluntary participation in the Green Generation program,” said Thomas Shirilla, Consumers Energy’s program manager for Green Generation.
The Green Generation program, with nearly 16,000 customer-participants, was the first voluntary renewable energy program in Michigan. It was launched in 2005 following authorization by the Michigan Public Service Commission. More than 100 organizations are enrolled in the Green Generation program including the City of Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Community College, The Green Well Restaurant and the University of Michigan -Flint.
Green Generation has led to the development of several renewable energy projects in the state, including the Michigan Wind 1 park in the Thumb region. Other Green Generation projects include biomass facilities located near Birch Run, Lennon, Marshall and Zeeland. We also purchase electricity for the program generated by two wind turbines near Mackinaw City. All of the projects are located in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula and all sources are Green-e certified as renewable.
The Green Generation program offers our electric customers an opportunity to support renewable energy by enrolling in the voluntary program and paying a small premium. Program information is available at www.greengeneration.com
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( Comments Off )Solar Projects Selected For Next Phase of Program
The next phase of our Experimental Advanced Renewable Program (EARP) is off and running with the selection of residential customer-initiated solar projects in 14 Michigan counties. The program provides for the long-term purchase of renewable energy generated by customer-owned solar energy systems.
The projects were recently selected during a random drawing of qualified applicants. Projects selected are in the following Michigan counties: Arenac, Eaton, Genesee, Grand Traverse, Hillsdale, Ingham, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kent, Leelanau, Muskegon, Ottawa and Washtenaw. The projects range in size of electricity capacity from 1.3 kilowatts to 15 kilowatts.
David Ronk, Consumers Energy’s director of transactions and resource planning, is pleased with the interest in growing solar energy in Michigan. “This initiative supports Consumers Energy’s goal of providing a balanced energy resource for our customers,” he said.
Customer installations under earlier phases of the 5,000 kW program have added or are adding approximately 2,700 kW of solar energy to Michigan’s electric system. These 20 customers will join 143 other Consumers Energy electric customers already participating in the Experimental Advanced Renewable Program.
Consumers Energy purchase of customer-generated solar energy is part of our plan to meet the renewable energy supply requirements in Michigan’s 2008 energy reform law. Under this $3.1 billion plan Consumers Energy and its suppliers are investing in 15 new Michigan generation sources. This includes our 100 megawatt (MW) Lake Winds Energy Park in Mason County, the 3 MW Fremont Community Digester being developed by Novi Energy, and several hundred installations that are part of the 5 MW EARP. These renewable energy supplies are helping us meet the energy law’s requirement that 10 percent of the electricity supplied to our 1.8 million customers by 2015 be generated from renewable energy sources in the state.
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