May 8, 2008

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today issued an order approving nearly $6.5 million in Michigan energy efficiency grants for all customer classes to 14 organizations.

"My fellow Commissioners and I are extremely pleased to announce these grants," said MPSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu.  "The grants awarded today will help the state promote and move forward in the development and application of energy efficient technologies ."

The Commission on March 21 issued a request for proposals for Michigan energy efficiency grants for all customer classes with three distinct focuses: plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) pilot programs; compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) programs; and green community programs.  Based on its review, the MPSC awarded the following grants :

PHEV Pilot:

·            The partnership of the University of Michigan, General Motors Corporation, and DTE Energy Company - $5,000,000 to study plug‑in hybrid electric vehicles as a Michigan economic development catalyst, the near-term vehicle-utility interface, the mid/long-term vehicle utility interface, and the environmental and electric utility system impacts of PHEVs.

CFL Programs:

·            Superior Watershed Partnership - $150,000 to distribute CFLs through Upper Peninsula churches and monitor energy savings with the help of local high school students.

·            Urban Options - $750,000 to "buy-down" the price of CFLs at the manufacturer level to as little as $.99 per bulb.

·            West Michigan Environmental Action Council - $100,000 to distribute CFLs and evaluate the impact of the program with an emphasis on CFL disposal awareness.

Green Community Programs:

·            Charter Township of Delta - $50,000 for a recycling and eco-awareness campaign involving local high school students.

·            City of Taylor Department of Public Works - $49,120 for the installation of a 9 kW solar photovoltaic panel, 10 kW bio-diesel generator, 100 kW wood chip boiler, and 20 kW wind turbine at the Heritage Park Petting Farm in Taylor, and a program to educate the public about the units.

·            Greater Lansing Go Green! Initiative - $50,000 to help the lodging and dining industries "Green Up" their practices with an education initiative.

·            Michigan GREEN - $49,716 to conduct energy evaluations for small businesses in Delta County.

·            Michigan Interfaith Power and Light - $50,000 to conduct energy workshops and awareness events aimed at its congregation members and the general public.

·            Michigan Suburbs Alliance - $47,996 for the development of a regional energy office in the Metro Detroit area that would encourage cities to "go green" through education.

·            Recycle Ann Arbor - $50,000 to provide home energy assessments to Ann Arbor homes and offer access to energy improvement loans based on the findings.

·            SEEDS - $49,990 to provide a green house gas inventory for the Traverse City area and offer solutions as to how green house gas numbers can be reduced.

·            WARM Training Center - $50,000 to educate Metro Detroit businesses and cities on how best to reduce energy consumption.

·            Ypsilanti Food Cooperative - $35,980 to install solar photovoltaic panels on the roofs of its facility and the Ypsilanti Town Hall building, and a Web site that will show real-time energy savings. The grants are part of the Low‑Income and Energy Efficiency Fund, which provides energy bill assistance for low‑income customers and promotes the efficient use of energy by all customer classes.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

Case No. U-13129