March 27, 2008
Michigan

Senate passes bill to require state buildings to go green

The Michigan Senate today passed a bill that would require all state buildings to meet a series of renewable energy requirements over the next 17 years.

The legislation, which now goes to the House for consideration, would mandate that the state’s facilities get 10 percent of their electricity from so-called “green” or alternative sources–such as wind power–by 2010. The amount of required renewable energy gradually would rise to 25 percent by 2025.

The Republican-led Senate prefers such an approach to broader requirements, called portfolio standards, which would require power companies to supply similar proportions for green energy to homes and businesses.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm has called for such portfolio standards, saying they are necessary to make Michigan a leading state in the development of new energy technology. It’s one of the new technologies policymakers see as an opportunity for the state to diversify its economy and create more jobs.

Lawmakers also are considering bills that would partially undo Michigan’s energy competition requirements in return for an agreement by large power providers to invest billions of dollars in the development of alternative energy sources.

Gary Heinlein / Detroit News Lansing Bureau

Detroit News

27 March 2008


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/27/senate-passes-bill-to-require-state-buildings-to-go-green/