ATLANTA - ASHRAE will play a primary role in former President Bill Clinton's initiative to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings by providing design guidance and tools to reach energy efficiency targets. On May 16, Clinton announced the creation of a global Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program, a project of the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI). This program brings together four of the world's largest energy service companies, five of the world's largest banks, and 16 of the world's largest cities in a landmark program designed to reduce energy consumption in existing buildings.

It was always going to happen. Like a lover fearful they are about to get dumped for a younger rival, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) appears to have its scissors poised and ready to cut up the rest of the world's suits unless it stops flirting with those wanton biofuels.

Michigan's dedicated efforts and ceaseless drive toward developing energy solutions for our world are starting to garner National, and even international attention. Former President Bill Clinton spent over an hour and a half at NextEnergy on April 29th, at Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's invitation, and was shown displays and demonstrations from over twenty Michigan-based businesses ranging from DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM and DTE to entrepreneurs such as wind energy manufacturer Danotek Motion Systems, powertrain innovator HybraDrive, fuel cell inventors Adaptive Materials, battery developer T-J technologies, hydrogen infrastructure developer REB Research, and mobile utility system developer Titan energy.In addition, mid-sized manufacturers such as Energy Conversion Devices, United Solar Ovonics were represented at NextEnergy, and President Clinton had perceptive and deeply engaged questions for all of them. So impressed by what he saw that afternoon of Michigan's growing alternative energy sector, President Clinton spontaneously revised his planned speech for presentation that evening at the Detroit NAACP "Fight For Freedom" banquet to include significant mention of his visit to NextEnergy and Michigan's progressive energy initiatives to a sellout crowd of over 10,000 people.

Increasing Energy Efficiency in Buildings is One of the Quickest and Most Effective Ways to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Energy Consumption - Buildings Account for 40% of All Energy Used in US

Today Senator Charles E. Schumer, standing with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, announced his federal plan to increase building efficiency by 30% across the nation as Mayor Bloomberg has proposed for New York City. Increasing energy efficiency in buildings is one of the quickest and most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. Today's announcement marks the start of a coordinated effort to require states and municipalities to update their residential and commercial building codes. Schumer said today that he would offer these new emissions standards as an amendment to the Senate energy bill that will be on the Floor next week.

GRAYLING TOWNSHIP - After several years of rumors, a large multi-million-dollar theme park inched one step closer to coming to Grayling, bringing with it 2,000 jobs and an estimated payroll of $25 million. Grayling Township planning commissioners unanimously approved a concept plan for a $161-million, four-season theme park, essentially recommending the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) sell land to a Rochester-based group for the park.