LANSING - Michigan Public Service Commission Chair Peter Lark will spend the next eight months coordinating creation of a comprehensive energy plan for the state under an executive directive issued Thursday by Gov. Jennifer Granholm. The new 21st Century Energy Plan will verify the power use assumptions by the PSC's Capacity Needs Forum Report and
DETROIT - FEV Engine Technology showed a number of fuel-saving technologies at the Society of Automotive Engineers Congress in Detroit, this week. The German-based company that has its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills is heavily involved in the research and development of new alternative fuel technologies. FEV is an independent engine and powertrain systems
DETROIT - Hybrid advocates trumpet the environmental benefits of the gas-electric vehicles. But a new study says that the overall energy picture for hybrid vehicles isn?t as favorable as it seems. CNW Marketing Research, of Bandon, Oregon, says that when the total cost of hybrids to the environment is calculated, including factors like recycling batteries
LANSING - A package of alternative fuel legislation cleared the House Thursday, with members of both parties saying the bills are a critical first step in relieving dependence on oil. The legislation will provide renaissance zone tax credits for alternative energy facilities (HB 5752), grants for fueling stations to convert pumping stations to alternative fueling
DETROIT - NextEnergy will host a conference on March 22 that will focus on driving technologies, fuels and funding for cleaner air. The Michigan Clean Fleet Conference is a one-day event aimed at educating fleet managers on how to address current environmental and energy challenges by incorporating new technologies and alternative fuels into their operations.
DETROIT - Recent reports have suggested that Honda is having second thoughts about hybrid powertrains. It?s fair to say that CEO Takeo Fukui isn?t rushing to fill the automaker?s lineup with the high-mileage technology ? at least not yet. While he told TheCarConnection.com hybrids have great potential, he stressed that it will be hard to
DETROIT - The next Honda hybrid to join the company's lineup may be a gas-electric version of the new Fit subcompact. A report in Japan?s daily newspaper, the Nihon Keizai, suggests that Honda will adapt the Fit to hybrid power, while keeping the price under $12,000 in its home market. At that price the Fit
DETROIT - The U.S. Transportation Department has awarded a $2 million grant for the creation of a nationally focused University Transportation Center, which will be led by Leo Hanifin, University of Detroit Mercy Dean of the College and Engineering and Science. Other Michigan consortium members include NextEnergy and Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids.
DETROIT ? NextEnergy has partnered with Wayne State University to open the National Biofuel Energy Lab at WSU's TechTown accelerator in downtown Detroit. The first-of-its kind biofuel technology development lab is made possible through a $2 million Energy Department grant. The lab is part of NextEnergy?s Biodiesel Value Chain Initiative, an approach to researching and
DETROIT ? NextEnergy on Feb. 8 signed an agreement with BP to establish a hydrogen refueling station at NextEnergy's new facility in TechTown. The station, expected to be completed in the summer of 2006, will be BP?s third in Southeast Michigan and one of several funded and operated by BP worldwide. The BP hydrogen station