MSU: Solar Energy That Doesn’t Block the View
MSU researchers are working on a transparent luminescent solar concentrator that can be used on buildings, cell phones and other devices with clear surfaces. The solar harvesting system uses small organic modules developed by Prof. Richard Lunt to absorb specific wavelengths of sunlight. The infrared light is guided to the edge of the plastic, where [...]
Prepaid Metering Pilot Launches To Great Lakes Members
“Looking out for you” recently took on more meaning with the option of prepaid metering now being offered to qualified Great Lakes Energy members. The program—researched and discussed for over a year, then piloted by a team of volunteer employees—opened to members June 30. It provides another option for those who may otherwise have their power disconnected [...]
Join Your Colleagues At U.P. Energy Summit
American Transmission Company, the Upper Peninsula Power Company, and Wisconsin Public Service will host a “2014 U.P. Energy Summit” on Oct. 28. A variety of topics, of great importance to both the state and U.P., will be covered. Presentations and guest speakers include: Valerie Brader, legal counsel/senior policy advisor to Gov. Rick Snyder John Quackenbush, [...]
HomeWorks Members Vote to Eliminate Outage Credit
A record crowd of 178 delegates at HomeWorks Tri-County Electric Cooperative’s 77th annual meeting has voted unanimously to eliminate a customer outage service credit. The credit was established by the Michigan Public Service Commission in 2004 as part of an electric service reliability program aimed at the state’s two large investor-owned utilities. Through Public Act [...]
Ontonagon Co-op Now Offers SmartHub Online Service
Ontonagon County REA has just launched Smarthub® - an online service that offers electric co-op members a faster, more efficient way to pay their bills and manage account information from either a computer or mobile device, including smartphones and tablets. With SmartHub, co-op members can also report an outage or service related matter, set recurring [...]
Co-ops Welcome EPA’s Extension of Climate Comment Period
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Sept. 16 that it will extend the public comment period for its proposed Clean Power Plan by 45 days (from Oct. 16 to Dec. 1). Released in June, the Plan aims to cut carbon pollution from existing power plants. “These proposed regulations are some of the most complex and [...]