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The Michigan Messenger going forward

By Staff Report | 11.16.11

I am writing today to announce the closure of the Michigan Messenger. After four years of operation in Michigan, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news into a single site, The American Independent at Americanindependent.com. This is part of a shift in strategy, towards new forms [...]

Colorado-based abstinence program provided false and misleading information to Michigan students

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.16.11

An abstinence-only presentation provided to numerous school districts in Calhoun and Eaton Counties in October of this year provided false and misleading information to students about HIV, experts allege.

Class action lawsuit filed against MERS over unpaid taxes

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By Todd A. Heywood | 11.15.11

Two county registers of deeds filed a class action lawsuit Monday on behalf of Michigan’s 83 counties alleging that the Mortgage Electronic Registration Services owes millions of dollars in property title transfer taxes.

Schuette fights important mercury regulations

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By Eartha Jane Melzer | 11.14.11

Despite evidence of the impact of mercury on children and public health, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette last month joined with 24 other state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to scuttle new EPA regulations that would reduce mercury emissions from power plants.

NMU cancels plans for coal-fired power plant

By Eartha Jane Melzer | 06.24.09 | 9:41 pm

Northern Michigan University has asked the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to cancel its permit to build a 10-megawatt coal-fired power plant at its Marquette campus.

The planned cogeneration plant was granted a permit last spring but construction was on hold in part because of a lawsuit by the Sierra Club of Michigan which opposes burning coal.

In a statement issued Wednesday by Gavin Leach, NMU’s vice president of finance and administration, noted that the university will now apply for permits to build a plant that will allow wood to be the sole fuel source.

Leach said that the university hoped to secure funding for the new project through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Last month, LS Power announced that it was suspending plans to build a new 750-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Midland.

Two new coal plants permit applications remain under consideration by the state. Michigan’s largest electricity provider, Consumers Energy is pursuing a permit for a new 930-megawatt coal-fired power plant at its Karn-Weadock generating complex in Bay City, and Wolverine Power Supply is seeking a permit for a 600-megawatt coal plant in Rogers City.

Comments

  • sludge

    Eartha — Thanks for reporting on the NMU coal plant cancellation! A correction — there are still 3 coal plant proposals actively under consideration before the Michigan DEQ. Consumers Energy's Karn Weadock plant proposed expansion outside Bay City and Wolverine Power Supply Cooperatives proposed plant in Rogers City are both going through a “feasible and prudent alternatives” review by the DEQ, with input to be given by the staff of Public Service Commission on whether the proposed power is needed. Public input is welcomed on each of these phases — submit comments at: http://action.sierraclub.org/CEN_Consumers_Alte… and http://action.sierraclub.org/CEN_Wolverine_Alte….

    The other plant is the Holland Board of Public Works plant expansion proposal. They will be required to go through the same kind of review unless they drop plans for their plant.

  • sludge

    Eartha — Thanks for reporting on the NMU coal plant cancellation! A correction — there are still 3 coal plant proposals actively under consideration before the Michigan DEQ. Consumers Energy's Karn Weadock plant proposed expansion outside Bay City and Wolverine Power Supply Cooperatives proposed plant in Rogers City are both going through a “feasible and prudent alternatives” review by the DEQ, with input to be given by the staff of Public Service Commission on whether the proposed power is needed. Public input is welcomed on each of these phases — submit comments at: http://action.sierraclub.org/CEN_Consumers_Alte… and http://action.sierraclub.org/CEN_Wolverine_Alte….

    The other plant is the Holland Board of Public Works plant expansion proposal. They will be required to go through the same kind of review unless they drop plans for their plant.

  • sludge

    Eartha — Thanks for reporting on the NMU coal plant cancellation! A correction — there are still 3 coal plant proposals actively under consideration before the Michigan DEQ. Consumers Energy's Karn Weadock plant proposed expansion outside Bay City and Wolverine Power Supply Cooperatives proposed plant in Rogers City are both going through a “feasible and prudent alternatives” review by the DEQ, with input to be given by the staff of Public Service Commission on whether the proposed power is needed. Public input is welcomed on each of these phases — submit comments at: http://action.sierraclub.org/CEN_Consumers_Alte… and http://action.sierraclub.org/CEN_Wolverine_Alte….

    The other plant is the Holland Board of Public Works plant expansion proposal. They will be required to go through the same kind of review unless they drop plans for their plant.

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