What Michigan Is Already Doing
To Address Climate Change

Michigan has undertaken various policy and program actions in several key areas, listed below. A brief description of the actions is listed below.

General Activities Related to Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Michigan will investigate and/or join the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX). Becoming a member of the CCX includes achieving by 2010 a minimum 6 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2000 levels. For more information about the CCX go to http://www.chicagoclimatex.com/.

• The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) participates on the Steering Committee for the development of The Climate Registry, a multi-state program designed to be an essential piece of infrastructure for the development of state and federal climate change programs. Over thirty (30) states in the United States and Mexico, and several Canadian provinces have already signed on to join The Climate Registry. For more information about The Climate Registry go to http://www.theclimateregistry.org/.

• In November of 2007, the State of Michigan joined the newly formed Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, and is participating in a Midwest regional effort to establish greenhouse gas reduction targets and timeframes consistent with states’ policies; and to develop a market-based, multi-sector cap and trade program by November 2008.

Agriculture, Forestry, and Waste Management

• The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), in conjunction with the Delta Institute has launched a pilot project titled, “Michigan Forest Carbon Offset and Trading Program.” This program allows Michigan forest landowners to document their creation of greenhouse gas emission reduction credits and earn revenue from their sale on the CCX.

• The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA), in conjunction with the Delta Institute has launched a program called, “Michigan Conservation and Climate Initiative [MCCI].” This program allows Michigan agricultural landowners to document their creation of greenhouse gas emission reduction credits and earn revenue from their sale on the CCX. In March of 2008, the MCCI sold 30,000 metric tons of carbon credits on behalf of Michigan landowners generating $107,000.00. For more information on the MCCI Program go to http://www.michiganclimate.org/.

• The MDA preserves and protects more than 3.1 million of acres of agricultural and open space land from development through a variety of permanent and temporary conservation easement programs. In 2006, laws limiting the property tax rates on land covered by a permanent conservation easement were enacted, helping to encourage the preservation of open space creating an opportunity for additional carbon sequestration, which allows landowners to participate in the CCX.

• The MDA was instrumental in attracting a green energy company, Renewafuel LLC, an affiliate of Cleveland Cliffs, Inc., to come to Michigan and potentially expand. Renewafuel produces high-quality, low-emission biofuels. These dense fuel cubes are made from renewable materials such as corn cobs, corn stover, wood chips, switch grass, etc., and are a potential substitute for Western coal and natural gas that could significantly reduce green house gas emissions of utilities and other companies.

• Michigan’s conservation districts provide more than six million trees and shrubs to private landowners. These plantings will cover 16,000 acres generating approximately 32,000 metric tons of carbon credits with a present day value of $160,000.00.

• The Forestry Assistance Program, a private lands technical assistance effort, administered by MDA and delivered through local conservation districts established 2,500 acres of tree plantations with 5,000 metric tons of carbon accrual and a market value of $25,000.00.

• The MDA partners with the federal government, other agencies, private and public conservation organizations and institutions, and farm landowners to implement the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) that puts in place conservation practices of significance to the state in matters of soil erosion, water quality and wildlife habitat. To date, CREP has established nearly 68,000 acres of grasslands under 15 year contracts. The annual carbon accrual is approximately 68,000 metric tons with a market value of $340,000.00.

• In 2006, measures were passed in the legislature and signed into law by the governor to provide property tax advantages to forested lands with appropriate sustainable management plans. The appropriate management of private forest lands will provide additional carbon sequestration in the state.

• The MDA and other state agencies are encouraging the installation of alternative fuels pumps in Michigan. On the MDA web site (www.michigan.gov/mda) is a listing and maps of 75 E-85 (ethanol) and 233 biodiesel pumps at a variety of refueling stations in Michigan, as of March 2008.

• The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth’s (MDLEG) “Energy Office” has created a Biomass Energy Program. The goal of this program is to encourage increased production and use of energy derived from Michigan’s biomass resources through program policies, public and private partnerships, information dissemination, and state project grants. For more information on this program, go to http://www.michigan.gov/cis/0,1607,7-154-25676_25753---,00.html.

• The Biomass Committee of the Michigan Renewable Energy Program (MREP), established under Section 10r(6) of 2000 PA 141, provides education and information exchange opportunities for participants and explores and proposes various policy options that might be employed in order to accomplish more rapid growth of biomass technologies in Michigan, especially those that produce electricity and thermal energy. The Biomass Committee is presently working on plans for cooperation, coordination, and collaboration with the state’s Renewable Fuels Commission. For more information on MREP go to www.michigan.gov/mrep.

• Biofuels Infrastructure Grant Program from the Energy Office awarded incentives to 17 public service stations to install or convert refueling systems (9 E85 and 8 B20) during a 6-month promotion. The Clean Energy Coalition, based in Ypsilanti, has been awarded an $110,000 grant from the Energy Office to provide incentives to public service stations and public fleet owners for converting fuel delivery systems to ethanol (E85) fuel. The incentives will cover 50 percent of the conversion costs up to $5,000 per site. Projects must be completed and dispensing E85 by September 30, 2008, and station and public fleet owners must commit to purchasing E85 for at least three years after receiving the incentive.

• Michigan Renewable Fuels Commission was established under Public Act 272 of 2006. The Commission is tasked with developing recommended policies and strategies to promote research, development, production and distribution of alternative fuels in Michigan. For more information go to http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1568_47547_47562---,00.html.

• Michigan Renaissance Zones were established Under Public Acts 270 and 273 of 2006. These acts expanded eligibility under the existing Michigan Renaissance Zone act to allow for ten additional zones to offer tax incentives to renewable energy production facilities, including agricultural processing facilities.

• A number of ethanol and biodiesel production facilities have located, or are planning to locate, in Michigan. Maps of these facilities can be found at: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mda/EthanolMap_186352_7.pdf and http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mda/BiodieselMap_183689_7.pdf.

• Recycling Efforts in State Government - Recycling has been a major component of waste reduction efforts in Michigan and is part of the MDEQ Pollution Prevention Strategy. Often, recycling is the first step businesses take toward a more efficient and cleaner operation. For details on the various recycling efforts in the Michigan, go to http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3585_4130---,00.html.

• Nutrient recycling is a major component of the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program at MDA. Over 860,000 tons of manure has been used to replace commercial fertilizer on livestock farms. Additionally, over 1,500 conservation practices have been installed in small and medium livestock farms over the last 2 years, including 1,200 acres of filter strips. For details on all aspects of MAEAP, go to www.maeap.org.

• The MDA is working with various sectors within the agricultural community and local governments to facilitate development of anaerobic digesters to capture methane and produce biogas. For information, go to http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1567_1599_44958---,00.html.

• The MDNR, in conjunction with the Delta Institute has launched a pilot project titled, “Michigan Forest Carbon Offset and Trading Program.” This program allows Michigan forest landowners to document their creation of greenhouse gas emission reduction credits and earn revenue from their sale on the CCX.

• The MDNR administers the Commercial Forest Act and supports local tax offices in the implementation of the Qualified Forest Program. Both of these programs offer tax incentives to landowners to maintain managed forests. The MDNR also administers a Forest Stewardship program that distributes federal grants to support private forest landowners to develop stewardship plans that promote sustainable forest management.

• The MDNR administers an Urban and Community Forestry program that distributes federal grants and provides technical information to municipalities to promote urban forest management.

• The MDNR also administers a Forest Stewardship program that distributes federal grants to support private forest landowners to develop stewardship plans that promote sustainable forest management.

• The MDNR is responsible for the coordination and implementation of our State’s wildfire suppression program, which is funded by a combination of state and federal funds. The MDNR currently has a goal to keep wildfires below 10 acres if possible and has an aggressive wildfire prevention program to limit the number of wildfires.

• The MDA and MDNR administer forest health programs that monitor forest health and implement a combination of regulatory and science based technology transfer initiatives to reduce insect and disease damage to forests to maintain healthy and productive forests.

Energy Supply

• A package of energy related bills is currently under review by the legislature. The package includes bills, which create a renewable portfolio standard, energy efficiency programs, and an integrated resource planning process. The package of energy bills includes HB 5383, HB 5384, HB 5520, HB 5521, HB 5522, HB 5523, HB 5524, HB 5525, HB 5548, and HB 5549. For more information on the bills see http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(3qzjhoz0h2uyaeynzxersv55))/mileg.aspx?page=home.

• The Senate passed three renewable energy bills on March 27, 2008. SB 1000 would require the Michigan Department of Management and Budget (MDMB) to purchase 3 percent of renewable electrical energy by Jan. 1, 10% by 2010, 20% by 2020, and 25% by 2025. SB 1040 would provide consumers an income tax credit up to $200 a year to offset the higher cost of renewable energy. It would require utility companies to put information on customers’ bills to educate consumers about the availability of renewable energy programs and available tax credits. SB 1041 would require utility companies to put information on customers’ bills to educate consumers about the availability of renewable energy programs and potential tax credits. For more information on the bills see http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(3qzjhoz0h2uyaeynzxersv55))/mileg.aspx?page=home.

• On October 14, 2004, the Michigan Public Service Commission issued its own motion to begin an investigation into future capacity requirements. The Capacity Need Forum was created as a collaborative industry-wide process to assess the projected need for electrical generating capacity in Michigan over the short-, intermediate-, and long-term future. The goal was to provide policy recommendations within the current scope of the Commission’s jurisdiction and under currently existing legislation, in order to assure that additional generation could be built if needed. For more information see http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/electric/capacity/cnf/index.htm.

• The Michigan Public Service Commission participates in the Midwest Demand Response Initiative to work with other states in the Midwest to search for best practices and develop policy for demand response.

• The Michigan Public Service Commission has convened a statewide collaborative on demand response to include pilot programs, which emphasize the use of “smart” metering, advanced technology, time-based or real time rate structures, and assess the impact of time-based rates on customer demand. For more information on the Demand Response Collaborative see http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,1607,7-159-16377_47107_47110---,00.html.

• The Michigan Public Service Commission is conducting a proceeding in accordance with Section 1251 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to consider implementation of standards for net metering, fuel sources, and fossil fuel generation efficiency. The Commission must complete its consideration by August 8, 2008. View the electronic docket for this proceeding at http://efile.mpsc.cis.state.mi.us/efile/viewcase.php?casenum=15316.

• Eight utilities have green pricing programs approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission. Green pricing programs offered by Consumers Energy, Cloverland Electric, Detroit Edison, Edison Sault, Upper Peninsula Power, Presque Isle Electric and Gas, We Energies, and Wisconsin Public Service Corporation have a combined customer participation of approximately 20,000 customers.

• Executive Directive 2006-02 established the “21^st Century Electric Energy Plan for Michigan” to identify the State’s future energy needs; provide for a reliable, cost effective supply, and to establish goals for energy efficiency, use of alternate and renewable energy technologies; and to protect Michigan’s natural resources. For more information go to: http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/mpsc/electric/capacity/energyplan/index.htm.

• The MDMB is in negotiations with Lansing’s Board of Water and Light to use ten percent of electricity consumed by state offices to be generated from methane gas at a local landfill.

• Michigan Renewable Energy Program (MREP) was established under Section 10r(6) of 2000 PA 141. The MREP, is charged with informing customers of the availability and value of using renewable energy generation, the potential for reduced pollution, promoting the use of existing renewable energy sources, and encouraging the development of new renewable energy facilities.

• Wind Working Group Collaborative was formed by the Michigan Public Service Commission and the MDLEG, Energy Office with over 50 stakeholders. This collaborative has created the Wind Siting Guidelines for small- and large-wind systems.

• The Michigan Wind Energy Manufacturing Working Group is sponsored by NextEnergy, Michigan Public Service Commission, Michigan State Energy Office, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center and Western Michigan University. The mission of this group is to advance the capacity and capabilities within Michigan for designing, engineering, and manufacturing wind energy systems. This working group allows wind system developers and their potential manufacturing supply chain to build relationships. For more information go to Michigan Wind Manufacturing Group.

• Wind energy development projects located or planned in Michigan by private investors include projects initiated by John Deere Wind, Noble Environmental Power, DTE Energy, and others.

• The Michigan Public Services Commission is leading various efforts to revise net-metering and interconnection policies and procedures for small and large renewable energy systems.

• The Michigan Public Service Commission has convened a statewide collaborative on smart grid infrastructure to improve the state’s electric grid by including emerging technologies designed to improve the efficiency, reliability and security of the electric grid.

• Solar Energy is promoted by the Energy Office with 1) 10 kW photovoltaic demonstration grants that have been awarded to 16 universities, cities, and counties since 2002, 2) Go Solar education and aggregated purchasing project implemented by the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Assoc. in Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Oakland County, and 3) Michigan Energy Fair which attracted 4,000 persons in June 2007 and will be held in Manistee again June 27-29, 2008.

• In 2005 and 2006, approval was granted by MDA under the Farmland Preservation Program to allow for the construction of green technology wind generation systems in the “Thumb” of Michigan. To date, 32 wind turbines have been built in that area generating nearly 53 megawatts of power. Additional wind turbines are expected.

• The MDA’s Farmland Preservation Program is working with Hemlock Semiconductor to allow for a 39-acre farmland parcel in Saginaw County to be converted to an industrial use for the manufacturing of solar panels.

• The MCCI has established market access for owners of methane digesters. The methane may be used to generate electricity for on-farm use or sold into the power grid. For more information on MCCI, go to http://www.michiganclimate.org/.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Including Residential, Commercial and Industrial Buildings

• Executive Directive No. 2007-22 requires the MDMB to maintain the energy savings target established in Executive Directive 2005-4 (see below). It also requires MDMB, MDEQ, and the State Energy Office, to develop by July 1, 2008, a process for measuring energy consumption to be used by all state departments and agencies to track energy use in a common and consistent manner. The process must include a mechanism to calculate each principal department’s carbon footprint.

• Executive Directive No. 2007-22 provides that state capital outlay projects both for state agencies and department and higher education building be designed and constructed in accordance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System developed by the United States Green Building Council. The MDMB shall consult with the State Energy Office to implement procedures to require that the design and construction of new state-owned or leased buildings is accomplished consistent with LEED guidelines.

• The Michigan Public Service Commission has conducted various examinations of policies, regulatory impediments, and incentives to encourage utilities to offer energy efficiency programs. On January 31, 2006, the Staff Report on Energy Efficiency was issued as directed by the Commission. The report reviewed energy efficiency programs and made recommendations designed to improve energy efficiency. See the report at http://www.michigan.gov/documents/EnergyEfficiencyPrograms_149147_7.pdf.

• HB 5525, the Energy Efficient Michigan Act, is part of the House package of energy bills. HB 5525 includes a decoupling provision to encourage energy efficiency. For more information on HB 5525 see http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(3qzjhoz0h2uyaeynzxersv55))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2007-HB-5525.

• The Michigan Public Service Commission has approved a settlement in Case No. U-15042, which provides for Michigan Consolidated Gas Company to fund residential natural gas energy efficiency programs for low income and other residential customers in the amount of $500,000 in 2008 and $625,000 in 2009.

• Executive Directive 2005-04, titled “Energy Efficiency in State Facilities,” directed the MDMB to achieve energy use reductions of 10 percent by the end of 2008 and 20 percent by the end of 2015 when compared to energy use and energy purchases for the state fiscal year ending September 30, 2002. These reductions are to be met through: implementation of energy conservation measures in State facilities; use of cleaner vehicles in State vehicle fleets; green purchasing incentives; and requiring new State buildings to achieve LEED certification.

• Emergency energy reduction measures due to high temperatures and corresponding high electric demand on the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) transmission grid were addressed through Executive Directive 2006-04 “Electric Conservation Measures for State Departments and Agencies.”

• Energy Directive E.D. 2007-6 required MDMB to create a plan to reduce fiscal year 2007 state electrical and other energy expenditures by 10 percent from the fiscal year 2006 level.

• The MDMB is exploring innovative solutions for heating and cooling facilities, (free heat efficiency by reclaiming heat from condensate to heat domestic hot water and more, and free cooling efficiency through maximizing use of outdoor air when temperature and conditions are appropriate) to increase energy efficiency and help reduce overall utility costs.

• The MDMB’s energy saving measures thus far have resulted in a 14.7 percent reduction in steam usage, a 2.2 percent decrease in gas consumption, and an 11.4 percent decrease in electricity usage. The reduction in electricity equates to a 15 million kWh usage reduction – enough energy to power 2,500 homes for an entire year.

• The Customer Choice and Electricity Reliability Act of 2000 authorized the creation of a Low-Income and Energy Efficiency Fund, administered by the Michigan Public Service Commission. The purpose of the fund is to provide shut-off protection for low-income customers and to promote energy efficiency by all customer classes. For more information go to http://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/0,1607,7-159-16370_27289---,00.html.

• The MDEQ manages a number of pollution prevention and compliance assistance programs to assist companies reduce their environmental impact or exceed their regulatory obligations. For more information go to http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3585---,00.html.

• Michigan’s Small Business Pollution Prevention Loan Program provides low interest loans to existing small businesses for qualifying source reduction, reuse, recycling, or conservation projects. For more information go to http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3307_3515_4144---,00.html.

• Green Lodging Michigan program, a joint effort of the Energy Office and the MDEQ, certifies hotels, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts that have undertaken energy efficiency and green practices. Since the program was launched in October 2006, 15 facilities have been certified. For more information go to www.michigan.gov/greenlodging.

• Rebuild Michigan program of the Energy Office provide grants to community organizations to promote energy efficiency in the commercial/institutional building sector; assist local partners with energy audits for retrofit projects and encourages development of community resources for renewable energy generation. Since 1998, 488 public agencies have enrolled in this program. For more information go to www.michigan.gov/eorebuild.

• Eight Michigan Energy Demonstration Centers receive financial support from the Energy Office to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, and green building solutions for Michigan residents and businesses. During 2007, 8,192 persons attended a tour or seminar at a Center. For more information go to www.warmtraining.org/medc/.

• The MDMB has created and implemented the Building Operations and Energy Management Network (BOEMN), which creates a model infrastructure for building operations and energy controls and communication. By consolidating the monitoring and management of all heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, elevators, and energy metering into one system (regardless of original equipment manufacturer) the BOEMN will empower state government to more accurately gauge and manage maintenance and energy, while also providing fiscal savings by expanding competitive bidding opportunities and allowing for standardized training.

• The MDMB has created several external partnerships to have free energy audits done on many of the State’s leased facilities and 37 MDMB owned and managed buildings. These extensive audits identified various Energy Conservation Measures (ECM’s). By September of 2007, all ECM projects in MDMB facilities were completed, including but not limited to updating lighting, elevators, building envelopes and temperature controls, installing more efficient air handlers, HVAC systems and thermal window replacements, thereby reducing heating and cooling costs and decreasing our horsepower requirements for electrical motors.

• The MDMB has benchmarked all of its facilities to the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager program, administered by the Environmental Protection Agency Manager program to track our progress with energy reductions and green energy. The ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager program compares buildings to similar facilities throughout the country or against their own history, and offers recognition for superior rankings in energy performance. A score of 75 or more, based on a comparison of buildings throughout the country, earns the Energy Star Label. Organizations that achieve a 10 percent overall reduction, or have an average Energy Star building rating of 75 or more, receive an Energy Star Leader Award.

• The MDMB is undertaking a public-private partnership with a private contractor for a six month Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting pilot at the Escanaba State Office Building. The LED technology will eliminate the toxic metal found in fluorescent tubes from our waste stream, and expand the smart building concept. This will provide opportunities for enhanced energy efficiency by maximizing our building automated controls.

• The State recycles modular furniture that cannot be remarketed, thus avoiding disposal in the State’s landfills.

• The MDA and the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) will host MAEAP’s fourth statewide Agriculture Conference on the Environment. The ACE IV is scheduled for January 28, 2009, and will include an energy track with specific focus on wind energy farms, alternative energy projects, and farm specific energy audits. Conference details will be available at www.maeap.org by early summer 2008.

• A “Green Building” was constructed for MDNR in Evart, Michigan, for the Forest, Mineral, and Fire Management Division. Although not certified, this building has incorporated many of the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Green Building requirements.

• The MDNR RAM Center, located in Roscommon, Michigan, has earned Green Lodging Michigan (GLM) certification at the Steward level. The RAM Center implemented many unique environmental initiatives at their facility such as using programmable thermostats to control temperature, implementing a towel/linen reuse program, and purchasing specifications for Michigan food and products.

Transportation and Land Use

• The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) offers commuters a Vanpool Program, which is open to individual members of the public. MDOT also helps employers develop vanpools and ridesharing programs for their employees. The MDOT also maintains car pool parking lots for individuals wishing to car pool on their own. For more information on either of these two programs go to http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/.

• The Michigan Land Use Leadership Council was created by Governor Granholm in early 2003 and charged with studying and identifying trends, causes, and consequences of urban sprawl and recommending ways to minimize the impact of current land use trends on Michigan’s environment and economy. For more information go to http://www.michiganlanduse.org/index.html.

• Executive Directive No. 2007-22 requires the MDMB to purchase as feasible hybrid vehicles and encourage the use of alternative fuels in the state fleets including biodiesel. It also directs the MDMB to explore entering into agreements with other government entities for the purpose of joint use of alternative fuel distribution facilities.

• Clean Cities Programs supported by the Energy Office include the City of Detroit (Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, and Wayne counties), Washtenaw County, City of Lansing (Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham counties), and a new West Michigan coalition (Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Muskegon, Newaygo, and Ottawa counties). Clean Cities Programs support the use of alternative fuels for vehicles.

• The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) state long-range transportation plan, “MI Transportation Plan,” completed in 2007, presents options to achieve Michigan’s goals for the future by providing an efficient, integrated transportation system. To achieve this goal, MDOT invests substantial resources in non-motorized and multi-modal infrastructure and services. Multimodal infrastructure investments include bicycle lanes and multi-use trails, sidewalks, carpool lots, and passenger transportation facilities. Investment in services includes public transit, intercity bus, passenger rail, ferries, and a vanpool program. These ongoing investments offer Michigan residents an increasingly efficient variety of alternatives to driving a personal vehicle.

• The MDOT is already a recognized national and international leader in the field of Vehicle Infrastructure Integration and Intelligent Transportation System Technology (VII and ITS). The MDOT’s ITS projects reduce carbon emissions by keeping traffic moving efficiently through traffic bottlenecks, and improve motorist safety as well. MDOT also works in partnership with several major vehicle manufacturers to implement VII test beds in Michigan and advance the study of technology which holds great promise for improving traffic efficiency.

• The MDOT supports research and development in the areas of advanced fuel and low GHG technologies. Through our participation with the Michigan – Ohio University Transportation Center, MDOT supports research ranging from bio-diesel storage, cellulosic ethanol, and real-time congestion mitigation. This three year program is a partnership between the Department, the USDOT, and three Michigan universities. It contributes over a million dollars per year to the study of advanced vehicle technologies.

• The MDOT is actively taking steps to reduce energy use in all facets of its operation. A variety of efforts in several different regions of the state are being evaluated for implementation statewide. For example, MDOT’s Bay and Superior Regions are systematically replacing incandescent signal lights with LED lights; when this work is complete it will cut electricity usage in those areas by an estimated 80 percent, drastically reducing electricity costs and carbon emissions. In the Southwest Region, steps have been taken to reduce vehicle idling time, saving more than 170 gallons of fuel per snow plow in 2005 and 2006. The University Region is replacing its 3/4 ton pickups with more fuel efficient E85-compatible half-ton pickups as they come due for replacement, and is evaluating a new hybrid bucket truck which would allow electricians to use the bucket without keeping the truck engine running. Finally, the effectiveness of solar panels and wind turbines is being explored for electricity needs in remote locations; several solar panels have already been installed.

• The MDOT is developing the Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal in partnership with four Class I railroads. The project will improve the efficiency of rail and truck freight movement into and across our state and will result in approximately a half million long distance truck trips shifted to rail annually. The MDOT also invests in improvements to increase the efficiency of rail freight by eliminating bottlenecks and increasing train speeds on critical rail corridors.

• The MDOT works with eligible agencies in air quality non-attainment counties and attainment/maintenance counties to ensure the full use of Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds from the Federal Highway Trust Fund. The CMAQ funds are used for improvements ranging from the transit agency purchase of fuel-efficient buses to improving signal timing to reducing vehicle idling.

• The MDOT continues to look for innovations in geometric design such as roundabouts. This particular innovation reduces delay and fuel usage by effectively eliminating lengthy queues at intersections. Roundabouts also help improve motorist and pedestrian safety.

• The MDMB-Purchasing Operations has established statewide contracts for vehicles which include 32 Alternative or Flex Fuel vehicles. These vehicles are available to local units of government, universities, counties, cities, and K-12 schools through the MiDEAL (Delivering Extended Agreements Locally) program. Information on MiDEAL can be found on the department’s web site at: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/buymichiganfirst/MiDEAL_204962_7.pdf.

• Approximately 2,300 vehicles in the State’s leased fleet are flex fuel and 18 are hybrids.

• In FY07, the MDMB, Vehicle and Travel Services, installed an E85 bulk fuel tank at our facility at the State Secondary Complex. We encourage the use of E85 for State employee business travel by publishing a list of E85 retail vendors on the internet. Throughout FY07, 50,814 gallons of E85 were consumed, compared to 2,142 in FY06.

• The MDMB is a member of the Greater Lansing Area Clean Cities Coalition (GLACC), a coalition of stakeholders working to achieve cleaner air and energy security in mid-Michigan through alternative fuel and vehicle usage, and fuel economy practices. For more information about the CLACC, go to http://www.michigancleancities.org/.

• Michigan’s farmland and open space preservation programs are keeping 3.1 million acres of land in agricultural and open space use. By limiting development, residential land uses are directed to existing urbanized areas thus limiting vehicle trips and carbon emissions.

Cross-Cutting Activities

• The MDEQ Office of Geological Survey (OGS) has been working with the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP), a United States Department of Energy sponsored partnership, on a pilot project to test the potential for sequestering carbon dioxide underground. The MRCSP is made up of seven states, the federal government, universities (Western Michigan University and others) and many companies. The MRCSP is one of seven (7) partnerships nationally. Together the seven partnerships are testing the potential for sequestering carbon dioxide in the following ways: terrestrial sequestration, brine formation sequestration, and oil and gas field sequestration. If you are interested in learning more about the MRCSP please visit their web site at www.mrcsp.org.

• Executive Directive 2006-06 “Promotion of Green Chemistry” became effective October 17, 2006. This Executive Directive tasks the MDEQ with establishing a Green Chemistry Support Roundtable and developing and promoting a Green Chemistry Support Program for sustainable economic development and protection of public health.

• The MDA, partnered with the MDEQ, Michigan State University, and the turfgrass industry, in conducting the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program (MTESP). The program promotes implementation of many practices that support carbon footprint reduction from golf properties, parks, schools, sports fields, and other segments of the turfgrass industry. In 2007, the MDLEG awarded the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation a biomass grant and a bio-based products grant. The biomass grant will evaluate the feasibility of pelletizing grass clippings to be used as a biomass energy source. The bio-based products grant provides incentives to the golf industry to switch from petroleum based products to bio-based products. Go to www.mtesp.org for more information.