Governor Calls for Change, Concerns Exist
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More power from wind! That’s long been the message from Lansing. Governor Granholm has been an outspoken advocate of alternative energy. In her most recent state of the state address she called on Michigan to turn to wind, and essentially away from coal. But is the technology there for us to do it now?
Governor Granholm said "that's why I have directed the D.E.Q. to evaluate in consultation with our public service commission both the need for additional electricity generation and all feasible and prudent alternatives before approving new coal fired power plants in Michigan."
The Governor's state of the state address rang true for many at The Michigan Land Use Institute in Traverse City.
Jim Dulzo, who is with the Institute and has been a proponent of alternative energy says "if you approach the whole problem in a very holistic approach or broad view of things that need to be handled then what she says about coal makes absolute perfect sense."
For years the institute has rallied around the clock against permits to build new coal burning power plants like one in Roger's City.
Dulzo says "every study that's out there is responsible shows electricity use in Michigan declining and declining for years out probably for the middle of the next decade at least."
And while a decreasing population, and a drop in energy consumption due to plummeting industry is certainly not good news, the institute and the Governor say this is an opportunity to break from coal.
They claim we don't need the power now...and that means its time to make the switch.
Dulzo says not only will making the break from coal help the state now, but it may make long term prosperity a reality, arguing that "we certainly don't need a new plant that once you put it up you need to run it 50 years to pay for it."
Or do we?
Lets go back to the governor's speech. The Governor pledged "to evaluate in consultation with our public service commission both the need for additional electricity generation.."
I dig a little digging and it turns the state already has done that for Governor Granholm. In January of 2007 the Michigan Public Service Commission conducted a Capacity Needs Forum in that report which was submitted to the Governor, the commission concluded that "alternative energy sources including transmission of power from outside the state are uncertain and cannot meet the state's need in light of even conservative growth assumptions."
And local electrical providers agree.
Cherryland Electric general manager Tony Anderson says we will need new coal plants in the near future. He has the proof to back it up. Right now its not only the technology but also the fuel that drives turbines that just isn't there yet.
Anderson says "we have been operating a wind farm in the thumb for over a year and the wind is only there 25% of the time so the other 75% of the time where is that power coming from? We need reliable base loaded generator to compliment the wind generation for me, that's coal or nuclear."
Electricity providers say while wind maybe the future with an improvement in technology and lower costs that day is still too far off to not update an aging coal power plant arsenal.
