FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, April 30, 2012

CONTACT: Mark Fisk, Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs, (517) 333-1606

Michigan Energy, Michigan Jobs campaign releases open letter to DTE Energy, Consumers Energy shareholders

Positive words on clean energy should match utility deeds

MICHIGAN – Ahead of meetings in May, the Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs campaign has released an open letter to utility shareholders asking them to demand that DTE Energy and Consumers Energyembrace the 25 by 2025 ballot initiative.

DTE Energy will hold its shareholders meeting on Thursday, May 3 in Detroit. Consumers Energy will hold its shareholders meeting on Friday, May 18 in Jackson.

The Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs initiative is collecting petition signatures to place a 25 percent renewable energy standard, achievable by 2025, on the November ballot. The proposal will spark $10 billion in investment and lead to more than 44,000 jobs in Michigan. 

“DTE Energy and Consumers Energy should lead the way in investing in clean, renewable energy, instead of opposing creation of a clean energy industry right here in our state,” said Mark Fisk, spokesman for Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs. “The utilities can’t have it both ways. If they say clean, renewable energy is good for Michigan they should support the 25 by 2025 campaign.”

The campaign is asking shareholders to:

1) Demand that the utility, its subsidiaries and contractors embrace the Michigan Energy Michigan Jobs initiative and live up to the many positive public statements made by the utility regarding renewable energy

2) Instruct the utility to cease spending ratepayer resources to engage in a divisive public campaign aimed at thwarting the wishes of their customers

3) Disclose any use of ratepayer dollars related to opposing renewable energy expansion in Michigan.

A copy of the shareholders letter, along with statements from the utility companies about renewable energy, are attached to this release.

More information on the ballot initiative can be found at www.MIenergyMIjobs.com.

Michigan sends over $1.36 billion out of state annually to import coal. Not only that Michigan spends an additional $1.5B on healthcare associated with pollution from 9 of the dirtiest coal plants in Michigan. The byproducts of burning coal are a threat to Michigan’s health and environment. It's time for Michigan's utilities to move into the 21st Century and away from coal. Clean energy jobs are rare bright spot in Michigan's economy. According to the Michigan Public Service Commission reports, renewable sources of energy are less expensive, cleaner and more economically sound than coal to meet our energy needs while keeping our energy dollars in state.

It’s time to transition to a clean energy economy in Michigan that ensures prosperity, good jobs and healthy families in the future. Communities and workers are looking for a plan to move beyond coal and climate disruption. It’s time for Michigan’s utilities to transition to renewable energy sources and increase energy efficiency, good investments for both ratepayers and shareholders.

We are supporting the resolution put forward by the NY State Pension Fund because climate change, advanced by the burning of fossil fuels, is putting our planet and our health in danger. According to DTE, "The Board believes that it would be premature and not in the best interests of shareholders." Climate change is a real threat and is happening now. Researchers are already predicting an increase in pests like the emerald ash borer that have destroyed our forests, and an increase in agricultural pests due to increased temperatures affecting Michigan's economy and natural resources. That effects everyone.

The GE Stockholders’ Alliance (GESA) was formed in 1980 and consists of individual and institutional General Electric stockholders who believe that the Company would be stronger financially, serve its stockholders and customers better, worldwide, and contribute to a cleaner environment if it withdraws from its Nuclear Energy business and places more emphasis on renewable energy and energy efficiency.  Through the years we have submitted resolutions focused on the dangers of nuclear energy, the benefits or renewables, and promoting GE’s environmental cleanup and stewardship.

We commend GE on its advances in solar technology, wind power systems and greater energy efficiency of its products.

We believe GE has an opportunity to provide leadership in phasing out dangerous and  excessively expensive nuclear energy, with its potential to pollute or even make uninhabitable huge areas of land if Fukushima-type accidents happen again.  In the U.S. there are 23 GE Mark I reactors operating that are almost identical to the GE Mark I reactors involved in the March 11, 2011 tragedy in Japan.  These U.S. reactors have a huge inventory of highly radioactive used fuel rods packed in poorly protected fuel pools at each reactor site, a dangerous potential for catastrophic accidents.

We invite GE stockholders to read “Resolution Urging General Electric to Withdraw from Nuclear Energy” which we submitted to GE for its April 25, 2012 Annual Meeting.   

For more information, contact:  Patricia Birnie, Chair,  5349 W. Bar X Street, Tucson, AZ  85713-6402  or patbirnie@greenbicycle.net 

DETROIT – Investors in DTE Energy Company are questioning why Michigan's largest utility continues to be stuck on dirty and expensive coal, especially at a time when analysts, including Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), point to investments in clean energy as cost effective and profitable. In its 2011 shareholder report, DTE Energy touted strong earnings of $711 million, but showcased only limited investments in clean energy and energy efficiency in Michigan. This news follows MPSC’s annual report that found the price of clean energy generation in Michigan is substantially cheaper than coal.

“While DTE reports high earnings on their clean energy investments, as I see it, there’s room for growth,” saidNick Schroeck, a DTE shareholder. “Crain’s Business just reported that renewable energy could be a $5 billion per year industry and utility companies like DTE should be investing more in clean energy technologies. It’s not only smart investing but it also helps to reduce the negative health effects that result from burning dirty coal.”

Coal combustion currently accounts for nearly 80 percent of DTEs energy portfolio, while the national average hovers around 45 percent.

“Continuing to gamble with coal is a financial risk not only for the company, but also ratepayers in Michigan, on top of the substantial health risks posed to Metro Detroit communities,” said Nic Clark of Clean Water Action. “The writing is on the wall for DTE CEO Gerard Anderson, who needs to start planning a transition for DTE away from costly coal and move instead toward clean energy investments.”

MPSC’s annual report, released last week, analyzed Michigan’s renewable energy portfolio standard and its cost effectiveness. The report found that renewable energy contracts are significantly lower in price than conventional new coal facilities. The MPSC reported that the weighted average prices of renewable energy contracts is $91.19 MWh, which is less than both its forecasted price and the cost of new coal-fired power plants. The report can be viewed here.

“DTE’s report also boasts their local investment in Michigan, however the right thing to do for Michigan communities is to develop a transition plan away from coal toward clean energy,” said Anne Woiwode, Director of Sierra Club Michigan. “The clean energy economy can provide good-paying jobs to thousands of workers in Michigan and it would be wise for DTE to take advantage of these opportunities.”

JACKSON – Investors in CMS Energy Corporation filed a shareholder resolution for the 2012 CMS proxy questioning why the Michigan utility continues to be stuck on dirty and expensive coal.  At a at a time when analysts, including Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), point to investments in clean energy as cost effective and profitable, investors are asking CMS to disclose their risks associated with continued reliance on coal. This news follows MPSC’s annual report that found the price of clean energy generation in Michigan is substantially cheaper than coal.

“Continued investment in coal is a risky financial gamble," said Jeanne Servis, a CMS Energy shareholder from Beverly Hills. “I applaud CMS for taking a big step in the right direction in December of last year to cancel plans to build a new coal plant in Bay City. However, additional CMS investments in clean energy and energy efficiency will benefit ratepayers, shareholders and Michigan."

Today’s annual report showed that CMS Energy has met it’s renewable energy goal and plans on lowering their renewable energy surcharge to ratepayers further, as a result of lower than expected costs for renewable energy.  The company also exceeded its energy efficiency goals and was awarded a performance incentive payment by the Michigan Public Service Commission.

CMS currently still operates four coal-fired power plants in the state of Michigan. In 2011, these four plants burned nine million tons of coal, all of which was imported from other states.

“CMS must keep its promise to go forward with plans to mothball units at 3 of its coal plants facilities, which are too expensive and too dirty for Michigan,” said Anne Woiwode, director of Sierra Club Michigan. “CMS needs to put forth transition plans for communities where coal plants are being closed to provide training and other support for workers.” 

“In light of the MPSC report, it makes financial sense for CMS to continue to transition away from dirty coal and start getting serious about clean energy investments,” continued Woiwode.   “Continuing to gamble with coal is a financial risk not only for the company, but also ratepayers in Michigan.”

MPSC’s annual report, released last week, analyzed Michigan’s renewable energy portfolio standard and its cost effectiveness. The report found that renewable energy contracts are significantly lower in price than conventional new coal facilities. The MPSC reported that the weighted average prices of renewable energy contacts is $91.19 MWh, which is less than both its forecasted price and the cost of new coal-fired power plants. The report can be viewed here.