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October 15, 2004MPSC head sees green futureBioneers conference focuses on alternative energyByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Michigan is slowly turning the corner on development and use of alternative energy sources, the state's top utility regulator said at an environmental conference. "Renewable energy is an idea whose time has come," said J. Peter Lark, chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission, who spoke to more than 150 area residents Thursday at Northwestern Michigan College's Great Lakes campus. It was part of the Great Lakes Bioneers Conference, which continues through Sunday at NMC. Lark acknowledged there's been "slow" development of alternative and renewable sources but said that will change significantly in the next few years. Lark said the MPSC is encouraging "green power" programs in local utilities, and this week announced $6 million in grant funds to improve energy efficiency technology. The commission also is investigating a "net metering" set-up where customers who produce their own power by wind, solar or other sources can sell some of that energy back to utility companies. "Every year, renewables will play an increasing role in Michigan's energy mix," Lark said. Some local vendors said the state is pumping more total dollars into those efforts, but should do more to create incentives for homeowners and small businesses through direct grants or tax credits. "This technology needs to get into people's hands and in people's homes," said John Heiss, owner of Northwoods Energy Alternatives in Lake Leelanau, which has installed more than 80 wind and solar energy systems in the Grand Traverse region. "The (interest) is there, but there's a lot more opportunity for people to take advantage of it," Heiss said. Thursday's conference was a forerunner to the third annual Bioneers conference, which is co-sponsored by Neahtawanta Center and SEEDS, a local nonprofit research and education group. It features 26 different workshops on a wide range of environmental and social topics. Saturday workshops include developing local food systems and getting locally-grown products into schools, ecology education, "green" roof construction and home energy audits. Sunday includes sessions on setting up community gardening programs, composting, indoor air quality, land use and helping businesses through local currency programs. The events will be held at Milliken Auditorium and other rooms on campus. There's also live satellite downlinks with a Bioneers conference in San Rafael, Calif. featuring international speakers on scientific and social issues.
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