WHITMORE LAKE ? RheTech has expanded its RheVision biocomposites product line to include agave fiber and coconut fiber. These new biofibers, including RheVision's existing offering of wood fiber, rice hull and flax fiber reinforced polyolefin, are helping RheTech meet the growing demand for environmentally friendly materials that meet the performance characteristics of its customers. ?We
LANSING - Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has been linked to a variety of environmental problems around the country, but industry officials said a combination of the state's geography and its regulations would prevent those incidents in Michigan. Though the issue has become a hot button for environmentalists in recent months, Michigan has had wells that
OAK PARK - Azure Dynamics Corp. announced that it has delivered its 1,000th Balance Hybrid Electric Truck to Purolator, Azure's largest customer. This unit also represents Purolator's 200th Hybrid Electric truck received in 2011, which is part of its previous record 600 unit order providing for 200 units being delivered in 2011 with an additional
LANSING - Increasing Michigan's portfolio standard is the goal of a constitutional amendment submitted this week with the Department of State. A group calling itself Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs is backing adoption by voters of a 25 percent RPS standard by 2025, meaning utilities would have to generate 25 percent of their electricity from renewable
LANSING - While Michigan House Republicans are confident they have found a long-term solution for the funding of heating assistance for the poor, the funding of energy efficiency projects that used to come out of the same pot of money will be much different. The plan that Rep. Kenneth Horn (R-Frankenmuth) came up with after
LANSING - Detroit's Cobo Center has earned Green Venues Michigan Steward certification from the Michigan Energy Office, which encourages venues to implement environmental initiatives and cost-saving "green" practices. ?Cost-saving green business practices have been extremely positive for job creation and retention in the hospitality sector,? said Martin Dober, vice president of new markets of the
DETROIT ? The latest news on the Chevrolet Volt is that General Motors is going to change battery suppliers. GM had been buying lithium-metal-oxide batteries from LG Chem. Now it will switch to lithium-phosphate batteries from A123. The lithium-phosphate batteries are less likely to catch fire if damaged, but they hold about 10 percent less
LANSING - Environmental groups applauded Governor Rick Snyder's decision to veto a bill that would have largely barred state departments and agencies from issuing rules more restrictive than the federal government, but the Republican sponsor of the bill fumed at Snyder's action. Snyder's move was not a surprise. Gongwer News Service reported November 10 that
LANSING - A proposed general vessel permit for ships operating on the Great Lakes would allow international freighters to operate their ballast waters on international standards, and environmental groups on Thursday criticized that proposal as too weak to protect the lakes from additional invasive species. The proposed rule was issued by the federal Environmental Protection
DETROIT - Sino Ambassadors signed a deal to set up two venture capital funds with the Hanson Group, a major Chinese conglomerate, to invest in Cleantech companies with ready-to-market products. Hanson will then produce and sell the products in China while also providing capital to scale up operations here. Hanson is a massive real estate