WCEV support group discusses what they can do to help
by Angie Asam, Staff Writer
Governor Jennifer Granholm delivered her State of the State address on February 3, 2009 and alarmed those working so diligently on the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Rogers City as a part of the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture. In that address Granholm set an aggressive goal for Michigan, saying ?By the year 2020, Michigan will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels for generating electricity by 45 percent. We will do it through increased renewable energy, gains in energy efficiency and other new technologies.?
?Instead of spending nearly $2 billion a year importing coal or natural gas from other states we?ll be spending our energy dollars on Michigan wind turbines, Michigan solar panels, Michigan energy-efficiency devises, all designed, manufactured and installed by Michigan workers,? Granholm announced on how the reduction would go.
She went on to say that her ambitious goals with the 45 percent reduction by 2020 plan would lessen the need for new coal-fired power plants in Michigan. Granholm announced that she has directed the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Public Service Commission to evaluate the need for additional electricity generation and all feasible and prudent alternatives before approving new coal-fired power plants in Michigan.
Granholm?s speech alarmed those in support of the Wolverine Power Plant because they felt it would only delay or stop the process that Wolverine is going through, including the granting of the air quality permit.
The Wolverine Clean Energy Venture support group met last Thursday evening and discussed what they could do to help Wolverine and the process. ?Maybe we have to do a writing campaign or maybe we go down and visit Jennifer in Lansing, which is an interesting concept if we could get a large group down there,? said president Bob Noffze.
The group discussed the issue further and a subcommittee will meet to come up with possible ideas on making sure Governor Granholm knows that there is a group in support of the plant. Ken Bradstreet, director of community and governmental affairs for Wolverine Power met with U.S. Representative Bart Stupak and State Representative Andy Neumann as well as community members last week at the
Bradstreet was also present at the support group meeting and gave them the same update, thanking them for all their support over the year and telling them how happy his company was with the support and the success in the past year. Following Bradstreet?s presentation Mike Eustice spoke about his trip to the Cleco power plant in Boyce, Louisiana and how encouraging the visit was as a group of Presque Isle County officials had the opportunity to ask questions of those who have gone through the process.
?This is the greatest opportunity presented to Rogers City in the 53 years that I have lived here, lets not let this slip away from us,? said Eustice. The support group continued to discuss what they could do to show Granholm their high level of support for the project and will be continuing to work on that in future meetings.