Energy

Escanaba should market itself as ‘green’ community, councilman says

ESCANABA — It was suggested last week that Escanaba should market itself as a green community. Escanaba City Councilman Ralph Blazier suggested it after touring the new solar garden at the Delta County Airport.
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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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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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U.P. Energy Summit addresses pending power issues, rate hikes

MARQUETTE – More than 300 people attended the U.P. Energy Summit in Marquette Tuesday to assess how the pending increase in electric rates in December might affect the Upper Peninsula and talk about plans to build more generations facilities in the U.P.
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Public voices concerns over ruling that hikes U.P. electric rates

MARQUETTE – A panel discussion on power issues in the Upper Peninsula was hosted by State Rep. John Kivela (D-Marquette) and State Sen. Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) during the U.P. Energy Summit Tuesday in Marquette.
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Cliffs Natural Resources considers producing its own power for mines

ISHPEMING – Cliffs Natural Resources is considering a combined heat and power cogeneration facility that would power the iron ore mines in the Upper Peninsula. Cliffs is talking with Invenergy Thermal Development LLC about the possibility.
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Sale of Upper Peninsula Power Company completed

ISHPEMING — Upper Peninsula Power Company announced today that the sale of the utility has been completed, marking a return of UPPCO to its original roots of being a Michigan-headquartered energy provider.
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Wood pellets now in short supply in the Upper Peninsula

WILSON – There is now a shortage of wood pellet fuel as people look for alternatives to heat their homes. Chad LaFave of Wilson heats his business with pellets and sells it to other homeowners. He said people are leaving their homes because they can’t get enough fuel to keep their furnaces operating.
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