(Image Credit: seagull/pixabay)
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed bills to change Michigan’s approach toward clean energy production. This clean energy legislation generates tens of thousands of well-paying jobs, reduces household utility costs, and protects the state’s water, air, and public health. This event at Detroit’s Eastern Market occurred after Whitmer presented her What’s Next speech three months ago to tackle climate change.
According to Whitmer and a study investigating how these new laws introduce changes in the transition to clean energy, household energy costs should decrease by $145/year on average. However, republicans believe that utilities could charge their customers for renewable energy projects, resulting in rising costs. Under these bills, Michigan utilities must generate 80% of energy from renewable sources from 2035 to 2039 and 100% starting in 2040.
Additionally, this legislation lays out renewable targets that utilities must reach. Their renewable energy credit portfolio has to reach 15% of electricity in 2029, 50% by 2030, and 60% by 2035. Such standards are important because 12% of the state’s power production came from renewable sources in 2022.
Michigan has two main utility companies, DTE Energy and Consumers Energy. The former produces 15% of electricity from renewables. Meanwhile, the latter is hoping to produce 40% of electricity from renewables by 2040. All the bills signed by Whitmer are attempting to help reach the clean energy goals by making it easier for companies to deploy wind and solar projects in the state.
Only cities, counties, and townships form zoning policies and regulations designed to restrict or prevent wind and solar deployments within their border. This wouldn’t be the first time it’s occurred, either. In a particular case, Keene Township supervisor and treasurer got recalled for a solar ordinance project to generate 100 MW of power.
As a workaround, the Michigan Public Service Commission can approve large-scale solar and wind, allowing developments to begin despite opposition attempts to block it. This legislation couldn’t come soon enough since Michigan needs another 209,000 acres of land to install wind and solar projects just to produce 60% of energy from renewables.
Solar energy production is expected to increase in Pasadena. (Image Credit: torstensimon/pixabay)
One year ago, Pasadena City Council officials set a target to achieve carbon-free energy by the end of 2040. Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) unveiled an energy portfolio expansion, which includes solar. PWP is one of the three utilities to reach a 20-year contract agreement with the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) to purchase solar power. It’s part of the plan to g
enerate 117 MW of solar energy through the Sapphite Solar Project, which is expected to be operational in 2025. On December 31, 2026, its consumers are receiving 1/3rd of that power. SCPPA could also obtain a 59 MW battery to store that energy.
PWP also announced the signing of a 15-year contract with the SCPPA to purchase 25 MW of geothermal energy from Geysers Power. With this acquisition, PWP can focus on slashing CO2 emissions per the 2021 Power Integrated Resource Plan, which is currently being updated.
Pasadena is regarded as a leader in vehicle electrification, with over 100 public charging stations for electric vehicles. Rebate offers are available to customers. For example, $75,000 is up for grabs for commercial electricity customers who deploy EV chargers. Meanwhile, residential customers can get a $600 rebate for installing Wi-Fi-supported chargers or $1,500 for purchasing an electric vehicle.
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