Can Michigan Achieve 10% to 16% Energy Savings

Nov. 19, 2013

In a draft report, Michigan revealed that it has surpassed its 1 percent annual electricity savings targets by 116 percent to 124 percent. That was achieved at a cost of $20 per megawatt-hour, much less than the $60 per megawatt-hour for electricity from gas-fired units, said Michigan Public Service Commission Chairman John Quackenbush in this podcast interview. Now, the commission wants to achieve 10.8 percent to 14.7 percent savings for gas, and 14.5 percent to 16.1 percent savings for electricity over the next 10 years. Is that possible? Listen to learn more about Michigan’s incentives for utilities and its problems with its de-coupling efforts.

About the Author

Lisa Cohn

Contributing Editor

I focus on the West Coast and Midwest. Email me at [email protected]

I’ve been writing about energy for more than 20 years, and my stories have appeared in EnergyBiz, SNL Financial, Mother Earth News, Natural Home Magazine, Horizon Air Magazine, Oregon Business, Open Spaces, the Portland Tribune, The Oregonian, Renewable Energy World, Windpower Monthly and other publications. I’m also a former stringer for the Platts/McGraw-Hill energy publications. I began my career covering energy and environment for The Cape Cod Times, where Elisa Wood also was a reporter. I’ve received numerous writing awards from national, regional and local organizations, including Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Willamette Writers, Associated Oregon Industries, and the Voice of Youth Advocates. I first became interested in energy as a student at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, where I helped design and build a solar house.

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