LANSING - Consumers Energy has paid Michigan companies $2.8 million and awarded $71 million in multi-year contracts in the first three months of its involvement in the state's new Pure Michigan Business Connect initiative. The public/private initiative announced in June could mean as much as $3 billion would be available to Michigan businesses. The utility
DETROIT? DTE Energy is more than halfway to its renewable energy goal with a contract to purchase 120 megawatts from a wind farm in Tuscola, Bay and Saginaw counties. The $485 million contract with Tuscola Bay Wind LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, was approved Thursday by the Michigan Public Service Commission. DTE Energy will
DETROIT - NextCat, developed with Wayne State University technology and incubated at TechTown, was awarded nearly $500,000 from the National Science Foundation, bringing total investment in the biofuel company to $1.3 million. The $498,830 grant was a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research award. NextCat is working to advance a biofuel catalyst technology developed at
NOVI - The Battery Show, to be held October 25-27 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, is not only a platform to showcase products and services, but also a forum for industry leaders and stakeholders to gather and discuss critical issues. In its second year, the show offers a two-track conference on battery business
LANSING - The Public Service Commission's approval of a settlement agreement regarding Detroit Edison's 2010 uncollectible expense true-up mechanism will result in a $7 million credit to customers. The Public Service Commission approved the settlement Thursday (Case No. U-16574), meaning an average residential customer will see a one-time credit of $1.24 on September's bill. ALPENA
LANSING - What was billed in 2009 as the largest renewable energy corporate complex in the United States - on the site of the former Ford Wixom Assembly Plant - is still waiting for a transformation and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is also waiting. The Detroit Free Press this week chronicled how Xtreme Power
LANSING - Moving from coal to natural gas to power Michigan homes and businesses would have a positive economic impact on the state, increase employment levels and add to state and local tax revenues, contends a study by Michigan State University. MSU marketing economist Bill Knudson did the study that was paid for by The
DETROIT ? General Motors has awarded a production contract to A123 Systems, a developer and manufacturer of advanced Nanophosphate lithium ion batteries and systems, for complete battery packs to be used in future GM electric vehicles to be sold in select global markets. All of the battery packs will be assembled at A123?s plant in
ROCHESTER HILLS - General Motors Ventures made its sixth investment last week, investing $7.5 million into solar panel maker Sunlogics to build solar-powered electric charging stations for the Chevy Volt electric car. GM Ventures, the venture capital arm of General Motors, has invested $45 million into a variety of start-ups, mostly in cleantech and vehicle
JACKSON - As a result of strong customer interest, Consumers Energy's energy efficiency incentive program for electric business customers has reached its 2011 energy savings goal. But the utility will still receive applications to the program for this year on a waitlist basis. Natural gas business customers still may apply for 2011 incentives from the