Business

Project Empire addresses economic, social challenges from mine closure

NEGAUNEE – A response team of state agencies will assist communities in western Marquette County as they address economic and social challenges brought by the closing of the Empire Mine, Gov. Rick Snyder said today.
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Snyder touts forest product industry accomplishments at Besse’s

GLADSTONE – Gov. Rick Snyder said the timber industry in Michigan is growing at a faster rate than expected. He was at Besse Forest Products in Gladstone yesterday to announce that they have achieved four of five goals set at a Forest Product Summit in 2013.
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Plan would end White Pine power plant’s SSR payments

LANSING – The Michigan Agency for Energy (MAE) today said it supports a plan by American Transmission Company (ATC) that would eliminate the SSR or system support resource payment for the White Pine electric generator in the Upper Peninsula. These SSR payments to White Pine are projected to cost U.P. ratepayers approximately $7.3 million each year. ATC’s proposal would allow similar reliability to be provided without running the White Pine plant. White Pine is a natural gas plant that is over 60 years old. U.P. ratepayers have been paying SSR payments to keep White Pine Unit 1 operating since 2014.
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Wisconsin Energy overcharged Presque Isle Power Plant customers

LANSING – The administrative law judge presiding over the case at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that is examining costs to keep the Presque Isle Power Plant in Marquette running today issued a proposal for decision that agrees with Michigan that the owner of Presque Isle – Wisconsin Energy Corporation – massively overcharged customers for the cost of operating the plant. In his decision, the judge is recommending that ratepayers receive at least $17 million, plus interest, in refunds. “We are pleased that the administrative law judge in this case is recommending what would be a substantial win for
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Forest Service, DNR launch ‘Good Neighbor Authority’ timber projects

GLADSTONE – The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced today that the two agencies are completing another step toward implementation of the Good Neighbor Authority in the state. The parties are signing two Supplemental Project Agreements (SPAs) for timber sale work on the Hiawatha and Ottawa National Forests in the U.P. The Good Neighbor Authority offers the opportunity to work across jurisdictional boundaries to sustainably manage forest lands by allowing state resources to accomplish work planned on national forest system lands. The projects will maintain and create healthy forest conditions as called for in
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U.P. radio station installs new tower after collapse

ESCANABA – An area radio station is back at full power after its tower collapsed in August. Radio station 104.7 WYKX-FM began broadcasting from a new Sabre 400 foot tower in Cornell at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
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More working yet unemployment up slightly in U.P.

LANSING – Unemployment in the Upper Peninsula went up in May to 7 percent from 6.7 percent April however more people are employed. More people have jumped into the labor force causing the unemployment rate to rise. The Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget says the number of people employed in the U.P. is 132,700, up by 13-hundred in April and 21-hundred a year ago.
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We Energies, Cliffs agreement on Presque Isle Power Plant explained

MARQUETTE — Gov. Rick Snyder’s Northern Michigan Office held a conference call Wednesday morning to explain the recent agreement between We Energies and Cliffs Natural Resources concerning the operation of the Presque Isle Power Plant in Marquette.
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We Energies to keep Presque Isle Power Plant

ESCANABA – We Energies will not be selling the Presque Isle Power Plant in Marquette to UPPCO as planned under an energy agreement announced in January. Instead the Wisconsin company will operate the plant until its expected closure in 2020. The deal was announced Friday by Gov. Rick Snyder.
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MDOT names Airport of the Year award

SAULT STE. MARIE — The Chippewa County International Airport in Sault Ste. Marie has been named Airport of the Year by the Michigan Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics. The award is to recognize outstanding service to Michigan aviation.
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