Renewable Energy Pilot Program

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has approved an energy pilot program for DTE Electric Company that allows participants to obtain more renewable energy than the mandated amount.

The new program will let participants obtain more than 10 percent renewable energy, the mandated amount in the state’s 2008 energy law. It will be limited to an additional 150,000 megawatt-hours of generation from DTE Electric Company solar and wind facilities. Participants will also remain on their current tariffed rate and will pay a fixed subscription fee for the entirety of the program, of $0.072 per kWh of usage subscribed for the billing period. Additionally, participants will receive an energy and capacity credit based on their usage and subscription level for the same period.

In the announcement, it was added that the PSC’s approval of this pilot program does not constitute an approval of DTE Electric’s method for computing the value of renewable energy.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, October 14, 2016 11:03 AM
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Snyder Grand Jury Suit

A Flint resident has filed an action in Ingham Circuit Court for a one-person grand-jury to determine if Governor Rick Snyder violated state law by arranging for the state to pay for the Governor’s potential criminal defense.

Ker Webber, who said her children, husband and pets all suffered ill effects from the tainted water, alleged the governor violated the constitutional ban on having a conflict of interest by enacting a contract that solely benefits himself. Former Michigan Democratic Party Chair Mark Brewer is Ms. Webber’s lawyer. The action also named other government officials, such as Attorney General Bill Schuette, for not taking steps to block or protest the contract.

According to Mr. Brewer, the contracts have gone above $2 million in cost and both himself and Ms. Webber commented on the outrageous notion that Flint residents are contributing to the cost of the contracts considering they are the most directly affected by the crisis. Anna Heaton, spokesperson for the governor, commented that private lawyers were necessary to assist in the volume of casework generated by the crisis itself, and is legally sound considering the lawsuits were brought in an official capacity and needed response.

The complaint asks the Ingham Circuit Court to open the one-person grand jury to conduct an investigation because no other law enforcement agency or the attorney general will do so. There was no indication of any hearings at the time of the complaint.

posted by PAA Online , 11:02 AM
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Revenue Update

The House Fiscal Agency in its September revenue update said the General Fund revenue is currently above May projections with the state’s business taxes underperforming.

Michigan collected $2.436 billion in September, which is $2.6 million less than September 2015. In the current fiscal year thus far, the state has collected $19,913 billion. The General Fund revenue is estimated to be $977.4 million in September 2016, which is $8.7 million above May Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference projections. Net income tax revenue totaled $968.2 million in September, $5.3 million above target, and collections throughout the fiscal year are $384.6 million higher than one year ago.

Business taxes were $7.6 million less than anticipated, and the General Fund tax revenue is $32.7 million below the projected amount. Net business taxes are $347.9 million with net business taxes in September at $54.3 million. School Aid Fund revenue is expected to be higher than May projections and income and use tax collections were above target. Consumption taxes, which includes sales, use, beer and wine, liquor, and tobacco taxes, were also higher.

Sales tax revenue lagged estimates earlier in the year but is on pace to meet anticipated collections while the use tax continues to be stronger than projected, according to the House Fiscal Agency.

posted by PAA Online , 11:01 AM
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Flint Federal Grant

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students awarded Flint a federal grant to provide assistance to enhance learning to the status it was prior to the water crisis.

The grant, which amounts to $480,000, will go towards ensuring the children of Flint have appropriate support services in schools should any behavioral or learning challenges arise as a result of the lead ingestion. The district will hire three school counselors and two school psychologists to address mental health needs of the students and develop, design, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive, developmental and systematic Responsive Service School Counseling Program. Three speech therapists will also be hired. Lastly, four assistant attendance specialists will be hired to identify and support repeatedly absent students.

In response to the grant, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) and Gary Peters (D-Bloomfield Township) praised the Federal Government for its commitment to Flint.

posted by PAA Online , 11:01 AM
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PAAdvisory Briefs

Supreme Court Orders Arguments

The Supreme Court has ordered arguments in Enbridge Energy v. Upper Peninsula Power Company on whether the Public Service Commission has authority to enforce utility rate settlements that include revenue decoupling mechanisms. Revenue decoupling mechanisms are a tactic used to disconnect profits from a commodity. The Court of Appeals held that the PSC had overstepped its legal authority in agreeing to such a mechanism, and the arguments ordered are to determine if the Supreme Court will take the application to hear the full case or take some other action.

Shigellosis Investigation

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention will aid in the investigation of increased cases of Shigellosis in Genesee County and Saginaw County. The bacteria Shigella is highly contagious and spread via contaminated hands, food, surfaces or water. The Genesee County Health Department reminds residents the water is safe for bathing and encourages thorough hand washing. It is unknown whether the Flint water crisis aided in the spread of the disease, however there has been an overall increase, not just in the Flint area alone.

Enbridge for Pheasant Habitat Restoration

Enbridge Energy Partners, LP announced its plans to fund a $500,000 restoration of pheasant habitats damaged during construction of the company’s replacement of a pipeline in the Crane Pond State Game Area in Cass County. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) also announced the firm is working with the DNR to restore prairie habitat in the 4,200-acre game area with plant seeding and removal of hedgerows to create grassland. The DNR will make an additional $50,000 in contributions to the project.

posted by PAA Online , 11:00 AM
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