Public Act 295 called for the creation of the Wind Energy Resource Zone Board to assist with more forward-looking planning approach to the interconnection of wind energy projects. The Michigan Public Service created the board and was tasked to identify a list of regions of the state with the highest wind energy harvest potential limited to commercial-scale wind energy. The board identified four regions and the counties and townships located within.

Beverly Elementary has been named a finalist in the Walmart "Earth Day Every Day School Challenge." This contest was designed to recognize schools that are making small, every day changes to help the environment. As a finalist, Bevery Elementary will receive a $500 Walmart gift card, and the chance to win the grand prize: a $20,000 grant from Walmart to further environmental projects.

The school has entered a short video and essay, showcasing the school's environmental activities and projects, and is posted at  http://www.earthdayeverydaychallenge.com.

June 22, 2009

It's been a long-lasting friendship. And President Obama is trying to cultivate this country's relationship with Brazil, Latin America's biggest economy. The two countries are major trading partners that have given American businesses access to lucrative energy markets while providing Brazil with foreign capital and technology.

During the 1990s, Brazil undertook several measures to deregulate its energy economy. And while some of those efforts have been scaled back, the country has remained largely friendly to private companies seeking to invest there. If Brazil is to meet its expected future needs for energy that are estimated to double in 30 years, it must attract even more investment. Its petroleum sector alone will need $100 billion over the next 10 years.

June 19, 2009

Global warming's disastrous affects loom, says the United Nations. But fixing it remains elusive and expensive, it acknowledges. To do so, the industrialized world must lead by example and help fund efforts taken by poorer countries.

It appears, however, that aggressive and mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions tied to global warming are unrealistic in the short term. Instead, the international community is likely to gravitate toward a gradual and flexible approach -- one that permits the lesser developed regions to grow their economies while they also take steps to reduce emissions. But as new pollution-cutting technologies are commercialized, the policies will become more ambitious.

June 17, 2009

Sensitive nuclear information has leaked out. A 266-page document that is considered "highly confidential" but not "classified" and containing information on this country's civilian nuclear sites has been mistakenly made public.

On the whole, it is a stain on nuclear energy. And while the industry's foes will use the mishap as a public relations weapon, the matter does pose a broader, legitimate question, namely whether this country is prepared to ward off or to deal with any terrorist attack on its critical infrastructure.