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 [...]
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.
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.
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.
In a reversal of a decision made last year, the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment has approved the construction of a new 78 megawatt coal-fired power plant planned by the Holland Board of Public Works.
In an announcement today DNRE stated:
The permit – for a circulating, fluidized bed, solid fuel-fired boiler and associated equipment – was previously denied for a failure to demonstrate need for the new boiler. The Ottawa County Circuit Court on Dec. 15, 2010, directed DNRE to review and issue the permit within 60 days. The court concluded that an alleged lack of need for the proposed facility alone, separate from air quality concerns, is not a legal basis for DNRE to deny the permit application.
It has been determined that the proposed facility meets the air quality requirements the DNRE is directed to apply to the permit application, pursuant to the Circuit Court’s Opinion and Order. The decision is consistent with state and federal law and there are limitations in the permit to ensure Michigan’s environment will be protected.
Last July the Michigan Public Service Commission found that Holland’s forecast of future energy needs was based overly optimistic growth forecasts.
The MPSC wrote that the Holland utility had failed to consider that it could meet its power needs though less costly opinions, including a combined cycle natural gas plant, by purchasing power from other providers or through a combination of energy efficiency and load management and renewable generation resources.
Yesterday environmental groups urged the DNRE to reject Holland’s permit.
“Michigan is just beginning to move out of the dark ages and into a new, clean energy future and citizens cannot afford to open the door to more dirty coal plants that can derail our efforts,“ Great Lakes Environmental Law Center Executive Director Nicholas Schroeck said in a statement. “ We must take a stand to protect the future of Holland and all of Michigan from more polluting coal fired power plants.”
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