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<title>Michigan Green</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org</link>
<description>The Michigan Group for a Renewable Energy Efficient Nation</description>
<dc:language>en-us</dc:language>
<dc:creator>michigangreen@michigangreen.org</dc:creator>
<dc:date>2008-05-16T12:11:38-04:00</dc:date>

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<sy:updateBase>2008-05-16T12:11:38-04:00</sy:updateBase>

<item>
<title>Burning Coal</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article292.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[May 16, 2008 
Alliant Energy's business strategy is shifting. With coal-fired generation becoming cumbersome, the utility is committing itself to use more natural gas. 
Alliant's thinking is turning trendy again, at least for the time being. It is increasingly difficult in many states to get coal plants sited, resulting in a dramatic decline in the number of planned units. States such as Florida, Kansas and Oklahoma have recently rebuffed efforts by companies to build such facilities and have instead forced them to consider plants that use alternative fuels. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">292@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>energynews</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-05-16T09:07:06-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Letters from Readers - May 15, 2008</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article291.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[May 15, 2008 
Below are a few letters we received on topics that appeared in the past few weeks. They capture the essence of how many readers say they feel.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">291@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>food_thought</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-05-15T11:33:23-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Burning Issues Over Ethanol</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article290.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[May 14, 2008 
Detractors of ethanol are trying to decelerate its take off. Ethanol production is ramping up to meet federal mandates, which critics say has created global food shortages and potentially more greenhouse gas emissions. 
Federal policies have favored ethanol production as a way to lessen the dependence on foreign oil and as an innovative to way to clean the air. But critics say that this country's strategy is not working, pointing out that ethanol is made mostly from corn. That has diverted about a quarter of the nation's corn crop away from food production and into ethanol use -- an amount that will grow to 30-35 percent this year. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">290@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>alt_energy</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-05-14T11:05:24-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Unconventional Gas May Explode</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article289.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[May 12, 2008 
Impediments proliferate. But natural gas will keep flowing. Interestingly, it will come mostly from coal-bed methane and shale -- sources that are now the growth segment within the industry.
Accessing natural gas supplies are difficult because of environmental laws. And getting to unconventional sources is not any easier. But the difference is that the conventional fields are becoming depleted while output from coal-bed methane and shale are expanding. Today, such fuel sources that can be transformed into natural gas represent a trend in energy production. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">289@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>energynews</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-05-12T10:08:02-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>The Gift of Solar</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article288.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[May 9, 2008 
Solar energy's presence is now felt. If its influence is to expand, however, researchers must innovate and develop tools to store the power. 
That's the view from researchers at the Massachusetts's Institute of Technology who have received a substantial grant to make it all happen. Their overall goal is to improve today's mechanics, or to bring in disruptive technologies, that would greatly increase efficiencies and add value. As advances are made, prices will drop and give solar energy a chance to compete with conventional fuel sources. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">288@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>alt_energy</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-05-09T09:21:58-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Wind Power Group Blows Off State Alternative Energy Proposal</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article287.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[By the MIRS News Service
Posted: Wednesday, 07 May 2008 3:08PM
A leading wind energy association blew off the House-passed energy package Tuesday, saying the legislation would actually put $2 billion in new investment in wind energy projects at risk.
In letters to Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Senate Energy Policy Committee Chair Bruce Patterson (R-Canton Township), the American Wind Energy Association urged the leaders to make a &#34;fresh start&#34; with annual renewable energy requirements much more aggressive than what passed the House two weeks ago.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">287@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>alt_energy</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-05-08T14:26:39-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Greening the Transport Sector</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article286.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[May 7, 2008
Green cars come in many varieties. Natural gas is one of them, considered to be a much cleaner and cheaper alternative than conventional oil. In fact, Honda's Civic GX, a natural gas car that cost about $25,000 and is sold only in New York and California, is the &#34;greenest&#34; of them all.
The primary market is large fleets. Such vehicles drive substantial distances and are therefore able to recoup their higher initial costs through reduced fuel charges. They also have access to centrally located fueling and repair stations. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">286@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>energynews</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-05-07T09:19:32-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Brazil's Potential</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article285.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[May 2, 2008 
Brazilians are dancing in the streets. But will the hoopla last? The celebration comes amidst observations by key energy officials there that surveyors have discovered an area off-shore that may hold 33 billion barrels of oil. That would make it the largest such find in 30 years and the third biggest ever. 
Brazil could potentially transform into an international powerhouse while the United States could win access to oil supplies from a friendly and democratic nation. Brazil, meantime, is warm to foreign investors, having already partially privatized its oil sector. A rich, new source of oil would invite a host of prospects. &#34;We're already doing well, and if I look ahead, I think it will only get better,&#34; says Antonio Bonchristiano, who manages Latin America's largest private equity firm called GP Investments. In a speech, he also praised Brazil's well-developed infrastructure. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">285@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>governmentnews</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-05-05T12:03:45-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Energy Efficiency and Traditional Generation</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article284.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[May 5, 2008 
The nation's energy options will require new energy efficiency tools along with a host of fuels that are all supported by a substantial investment in generation and transmission. That's the view from an industry-sponsored report. 
The demand for energy is expected to grow by 30 percent a year by 2030 and the United States will need to build 151 gigawatts of new generation by that time, according to the Brattle Group that performed a study for the Edison Electric Institute. Toward that end, energy conservation is critical -- as is the need for more controversial fuel sources. None of the ideas comes free of charge and energy conservation is no different. It necessitates new technologies and perhaps some government incentives. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">284@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>energynews</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-05-05T11:27:25-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>U.S.-India Bond Scrutinized</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article283.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[April 30, 2008 
India may be a magnet for future investors. But it has also become a focal point for political dissension involving the U.S.-India nuclear pact. 
President Bush is determined to enact the trade deal -- one that would reverse 32 years of U.S. foreign policy and allow the sale of nuclear technologies to India for peaceful purposes. While the presidential candidates have all supported the compact, India's leaders have been unable to win support for it from Communist opponents who keep the current government afloat and who don't want outsiders meddling in their affairs. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">283@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>energynews</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-04-30T08:35:35-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Credit Crunch Bites Clean Tech</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article282.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[April 28, 2008 
The credit crunch has taken a bite out of the clean tech sector. But despite the critical situation, the industry is expected to go on to prosper.
The fundamentals are all in place. The rise in oil prices has caused an upward spiral in all of the fossil fuels, giving sustainable sources not only an economic advantage but an environmental one as well. Indeed, national governments around the globe are enacting clean air laws that encourage renewable energy consumption. The result, over time, will mean increasing levels of investment in clean technologies. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">282@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>food_thought</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-04-28T09:10:53-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Policies that Pay Dividends</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article281.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[April 25, 2008 
Economic policies may determine the presidential election. Utilities are particularly interested in preserving the current dividend tax rate -- something that they say encourages more investment in their enterprises.
A 15 percent tax on dividends is not just good for utilities but is also healthy for the economy. Proponents say the policy helps attract the capital needed to improve infrastructure while also contributing to full employment. Such incentives furthermore encourage savings and reduce the need to acquire excessive debt that could drag businesses down during economically distressing times. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">281@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>governmentnews</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-04-25T08:54:11-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Carbon Heat</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article280.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[April 23, 2008 
It's part politics. It's part reality. But the sum total equates to a fundamental shift in national policy as it relates to global warming.
The Bush administration now says that the growth of greenhouse gas emissions must be halted by 2025. After years of opposing any such regulations, the White House is laying out what might become the general framework for new discussions. It's a necessary move, as political candidates and businesses alike realize that carbon constraints are becoming increasingly real. A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, meantime, requires the administration to take action if it deems the release of those emissions as harmful to human health and the environment. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">280@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>governmentnews</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-04-23T09:16:07-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Utility Investments</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article279.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[April 21, 2008 
It's seems pretty safe to utter the &#34;R&#34; word. But investors still need to be cautious about where they place their bets. For their part, utilities have weathered the downturn and performed comparatively well.
Utilities have long been known for generating stable revenues and paying predictable dividends. It's a heritage that has paid off in the current economic environment. It's almost entirely a function of the fact that electricity is an essential commodity that must always be purchased. Regulated utilities, meantime, are able to pass through their reasonable expenses that include fuel adjustments while unregulated ones are taking advantage of current higher fuel costs and expected greater demand. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">279@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>energynews</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-04-21T10:03:13-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Alaska's Endless Endeavor</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article278.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[April 18, 2008 
An Alaskan natural gas pipeline would certainly help feed America's energy appetite. But financial and political impediments are delaying construction.
Alaska's Prudhoe Bay produces about 8 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day, or roughly 13 percent of this country's daily consumption. But, that gas never reaches the Lower 48 states because it waits for a pipeline to be built. While the state is now in serious talks with a Canadian pipeline developer, the project must still overcome a host of opposition that is bound to be formidable.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">278@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>energynews</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-04-18T08:29:47-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Letters From Readers - April 17, 2008</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article277.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[4/17/08 
Below are a few letters we received on topics that appeared in the past few weeks. They capture the essence of how many readers say they feel.&#160; ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">277@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>food_thought</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-04-17T08:40:23-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>High Court Pressure</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article276.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[April 16, 2008 
Clean air laws are once more mired in the courts. Now petitioners are asking a panel of judges to force the Bush administration to comply with a High Court ruling issued a year ago that said carbon dioxide emissions could be regulated.
In all likelihood, the issue won't be resolved until a new administration takes office. While the Bush administration says that it respects the U.S. Supreme Court's decision, it adds that it must consider several nuances that will have a profound affect on all aspects of the American economy. Critics of the tactic respond that the administration is dragging its feet in an effort to appeal to its industrial backers. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">276@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>environmental</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-04-16T09:56:37-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Detroit Gets Green</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article275.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Detroit Gets Green is an effort to recognize that Green is exploding in Detroit -- and it's up to all of us to see the ship and hop on board. It's bigger than any one person, group or event.

To keep in touch with all the many green events happening please visit the calendar at Sustainable Detroit. From there, you'll find educational workshops, conferences, talks, and more.
&#160;
Join us as we unearth new potential for community development: Food, Jobs, Energy. The Financial Institutions Community Development Conference Committee brings this special spring-time event under the theme Detroit Gets Green. The day will include an explosion of useful information, including case studies and a keynote by Soji Adeleja of the MSU Land Policy Institute.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">275@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>environmental</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-04-15T13:39:06-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Swept Up by Wind</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article274.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[April 14, 2008 
Wind power is drawing some fancy suitors. The latest is Germany's E.ON, which just revved up a 335 megawatt plant in Texas. It's part of E.ON's business strategy, which considers North America to be the best market for renewable energy in the world. 
Wind's allure is tied to its environmentally-friendly image -- a picture that is now enhanced because of global desires to curb the use of carbon-producing fossil fuels. With U.S. lawmakers and all the presidential candidates now talking about the enactment of legislation to deal with this, wind power's stock is rising. The point is underscored by the fact that the U.S. is now the world's second largest magnet for wind-powered investment. ]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">274@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>alt_energy</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-04-15T09:24:55-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

<item>
<title>Groups fight coal plants</title>
<link>http://www.michigangreen.org/article273.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[Monday, April 14, 2008
DAVID EGGERT THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
In the battle over global warming, front lines are forming in Bay City and Midland -- proposed sites for Michigan's first large coal-fired power plants since 1984.
If they win the go-ahead, the plants could operate for 50 years. That's an eternity to environmental groups upset that existing coal plants pollute and emit greenhouse gases linked to climate change.
The Midland City Council meets at 7 p.m. today to consider permits needed to build the plant on 32.7 acres on South Saginaw Road at Waldo.
&#34;Why would we make a 50-year commitment to such very old technology?&#34; asked Suzette Zelenak of MidlandCARES, a group opposing a proposed 750-megawatt coal plant in the city. &#34;It's just absolutely backwards thinking.&#34;
The $1.9 billion project, intended to serve industrial customers, is a joint venture between LS Power of East Brunswick, N.J., and Houston-based Dynegy Inc.]]></description>
<guid isPermaLink="false">273@http://www.michigangreen.org</guid>
<dc:subject>energynews</dc:subject>
<dc:date>2008-04-15T08:46:33-04:00</dc:date>
<dc:creator>Posted by webmaster</dc:creator>
</item>

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