Journal

Detroit Lightrail Program Gets Boost from Federal Grant and Private Funds

2010-03-09T01:52:40Z

In February 2010, the United States Department of Transportation awarded a $25 million federal grant for a light rail line connecting downtown Detroit to the New Center Area. The funds were awarded as part of the U.S. DOT's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant program.

M1 Rail, a non-profit public/private partnership, is using both public funds and privately raised funds to build light rail along Woodward Avenue from Hart Plaza to the New Center. The City of Detroit and Detroit Department of Transportation are in the process of applying for additional federal funds from the Federal Transit Administration’s $6.6 billion New Starts program to create the second phase of the light rail line, from the New Center Area to 8 Mile Road, creating a continuous transit line between Hart Plaza and 8 Mile Road.

As reported by Crain’s Detroit, M1 Rail’s Board of Directors (and chief financiers) include Penske Corp. founder Roger Penske, Quicken Loans/Rock Financial founder Dan Gilbert, Peter Karmanos Jr., founder of Detroit-based software maker Compuware Corp.; Mike Ilitch, owner of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings and co-founder of Little Caesar Enterprises Inc.

Michigan DNRE Begins Accepting Grant Applications for Development of Local Climate Action Plans

2010-03-05T16:16:16Z

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment (MDNRE) announced the availability of $250,000 in funding for the 2010 Michigan Community Pollution Prevention (P2) Grants Program. The grant program provides matching funds to municipalities and agencies to aid in the development of local climate action plans. Requests for funding are being accepted now through April 30, 2010.

Dow Chemical and South Korean Partner to invest $294M in Midland Battery Plant

2010-02-26T03:03:07Z

The Detroit News is reporting that Michigan will see an influx of jobs and investment dollars as a result of two new "green" initiatives by Dow Chemical Co. and its partners.

Top U.N. Official on Climate Change to Resign on July 1, 2010

2010-02-23T17:43:38Z

As reported in the Wall Street Journal [subscription required] on February 19, 2010, Yvo de Boer announced his decision to resign as the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

EPA Announces Modifications to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations

2010-02-23T15:37:31Z

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will likely modify its proposed permitting requirements for greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources, and will delay implementation until 2011.

Looming Legal Challenges for EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Findings

2010-02-19T13:52:30Z

The legal battle over the Obama Administration’s climate change policy increased on February 16, 2010, the deadline for petitions challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) endangerment finding with respect to greenhouse gases. In recent weeks, 16 court challenges were filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by various industry groups, conservative think tanks, and legislators asking the Court to review the EPA’s findings. Observers expect the court to consolidate the petitions.

Nuclear Power Nearing Certainty as Obama Announces First Nuclear Reactor Loan Guarantee

2010-02-16T16:33:18Z

President Obama and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) offered a conditional federal loan guarantee to Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Co., to build two nuclear reactors in Georgia at its Plant Vogtle location. This loan guarantee is the first nuclear project awarded under 2005 legislation that authorized the U.S. government to issue loan guarantees for projects that avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions.

Deadline Passes for Copenhagen Commitments – 55 Countries Make Pledges

2010-02-13T15:10:48Z

After many declared the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties in Copenhagen (COP15) an ambiguous failure, the path forward continued with the recent deadline and submission of the participating countries’ papers outlining their commitments to greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Renewable Energy Business Report

2010-02-13T02:06:18Z

This week, renewable energy firms have reported successes through new strategic partnerships and setbacks due to economic retraction.

A German division of 3M Co. announced today an investment in MAMA Sustainable Incubation AG, a Berlin-based technology company that specializes in renewable energy, energy storage, water treatment, and green building. MAMA, a relatively new equity fund, provides financing to emerging companies in the renewable energy industry.

3M Co. has six areas of operations: health care, industrial and transportation, safety, security and protection services, consumer and office, display and graphics, and electro and communications. 3M launched its renewable energy initiative in 2009, and has watched profits grow for its manufacture of coatings of wind turbine blades, window treatments and other energy-saving products.

In other business news, Denmark-based wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems laid off 6% of its North American work force this week due to decreased demand for renewable energy projects. Over 100 jobs were lost, including jobs at Vestas’ U.S. headquarters in Portland, Oregon. This decrease has frustrated efforts by local politicians to assist in the expansion of Vestas in Portland, including the offer of $31.5 million in incentives if Vestas was able to expand into larger offices in the city. Vestas blamed the decreased demand on its customers’ difficulties securing financing for wind energy projects.

NOAA Creates Climate Service Office and Launches Climate Change Web Portal

2010-02-09T18:10:12Z

On February 8, 2010, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its intent to create the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (“NOAA”) Climate Service. The NOAA Climate Service will be a central source for government-collected climate data, similar to the National Weather Services’ collection and dissemination of weather-related data.