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Energy and the Recovery Act in Michigan PDF Print E-mail
Written by Xin Yu   
Monday, 21 June 2010 17:10

1. Problem Summary
40 years ago, Gaylord Nelson, the Senator organized the first Earth Day, to call attention to the dangerous of ignoring our environment. In the past four decades, U.S. made remarkable progress, and the progress continues today. On the 40th Earth Day - April 22nd, 2010, President Obama made the speech of A New Foundation for Energy and the Environment to encourage Americans across the country to take actions in their own homes and their own communities.

With the progress of environment movement, energy plays a leading role in sustainable development. "We rejected the notion that we have to choose between creating jobs and healthy environment, because we know the economy in 21st century will be built on infrastructure power by clean energy." Just like what President Obama said, renewal and clean energy not only has sufficient potency in energy markets, but also can help create new job opportunities and strengthen the labor market.
Despite the economic and environmental benefits of improving home energy efficiency, a series of barriers have prevented a self-sustaining retrofit market from forming, including the assess to information, financing and skilled workers. For example, the homeowner face high upfront costs and many are concerned that they will be prevented from recouping the value of their investment if they choose to sell their home. The Recovery Act provides a unique opportunity to address these barriers, through which state and local governments have an unprecedented opportunity to expand investments in energy retrofits and develop community-based programs on a large scale.

2. Recovery Act
Michigan will receive a $30-million Recovery Act grant to improve and use energy technology on public buildings businesses and homes, which is the second largest award among the 25 Retrofit Ramp-Up grants.

Under the Recovery Ac, the Department of Energy in state government developed the Michigan Retrofit Ramp-up Initiative (MRRI). The communities, governments, private sector companies and non-profit organizations will work together to retrofit homes and business. There are three major goals of the MRRI: identifying ways to increase demand for energy efficient buildings and technologies; building a skilled energy-efficiency workforce to meet the demand for these technologies; and assisting lenders in making investments in energy efficient retrofits for Michigan's residential, commercial, industrial, and public buildings.

The true story of the environment movement is not about the laws have been passed, it's about the citizens who come together time and time again to demand cleaner air, healthier drinking water, and safer food. Similarly, facing the energy challenges, the most effective way is to call on the public to take actions in everyday life and work, for instance, help the business company to set up a series of energy saving reminder measures, or to control the air conditioning systems more scientifically. It is a distinct opportunity for Michigan to develop the energy saving system and recover the economy by the means of the MRRI. While, due to the characteristics of multi-stakeholder and community-based program, the energy department and other relevant organizations still have a long way to go.

Reference:
Council on Environmental Quality. Recovery Through Retrofit. October 2009
Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth. Abstract: Michigan Retrofit Ramp-up Initiative (MRRI)
Jackie Headapohl. Michigan gets $30 million to ramp-up energy efficiency building retrofits. April 21, 2010
The White House, Office of the Press Secretary. Vice President Biden Kicks Off Five Days of Earth Day Activities with Announcement of Major New Energy Efficiency Effort. April 21, 2010.
Vicki Levengood. Governor Granholm's Statement on Michigan's $30 Million Recovery Act Grant to Ramp Up Energy Efficiency in Michigan, April 21, 2010

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