Energy & Infrastructure

Consumers Energy Breaks Ground on Cross Winds® Energy Park Phase II

Consumers Energy broke ground on its third wind energy project, Cross Winds Energy Park II in Tuscola County’s Columbia Township.Michigan’s largest energy provider is working with lead contractor White Construction, which has started building access roads and will begin constructing concrete foundations within two weeks for the 19 new turbines that will be 499 feet tall and generate up to 44 megawatts. White Construction was the contractor for Consumers Energy’s Lake Winds Energy Park near Ludington, Mich.

Energy & Infrastructure

Massachusetts vs. New York and the Energy Storage Race

How the competition will play out is still unclear. What is evident is that the state perceived as the winner in this race will likely become a regional hub for energy storage, attracting investment and jobs, while leaving the other state in its shadow. This puts policy makers in the hot seat.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Beyond Financing: Key Attributes of a Public-Private Partnership

Public-private partnerships (P3s) are most commonly known for funding large-scale water infrastructure projects that a utility can’t support through traditional funding. However, other key attributes in the P3 model are often overlooked. In a P3, the private entity may provide the capital, but the true benefits go well beyond financing alone.

Energy & Infrastructure

Consumers Energy Works to Save Michigan’s Water

The company uses hundreds of billions of gallons of water each year, the vast majority related to producing power at its electric generating plants. But in 2016, Consumers Energy reduced water intensity — gallons used per megawatt-hour of electricity produced — by 17 percent at its electric generating plants. The energy provider is aiming for a 20 percent reduction by 2018. Reaching that goal would save more than 100 million gallons of water per year.

Research & Reports

Caterpillar Inc.: Building Better

For more than 90 years, Caterpillar’s business has been about building better — better lives, better communities and, ultimately, a better world.

Energy & Infrastructure

The Role of Independent Regulators in Bringing Power to Africa

Ignacio Rodriguez, director for power sector and energy reforms at Tetra Tech, was part of a Tetra Tech delegation that attended the Africa Energy Forum (AEF) in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ignacio shared insights as part of a panel discussion of the importance of the regulator as an independent entity. All opinions expressed in this post are the author’s own.

Research & Reports

Caterpillar 2016 Sustainability Report | Letter from Caterpillar CEO Jim Umpleby

Caterpillar CEO Jim Umpleby highlights examples of how we’re building better through natural infrastructure, circular economy practices and energy access, as well as our sustainability practices within the company.

Environment

Fenner Nature Center in Lansing Enhanced by Consumers Energy Volunteer’s Involvement

Consumers Energy employees are taking part in volunteer efforts this spring to support environmental stewardship and sustainability throughout Michigan. Lansing’s Fenner Nature Center is one of the beneficiaries, thanks to employee Scott McPhail. McPhail, an engineer with Consumers Energy in Jackson, has been an active volunteer at the Fenner Nature Center for more than two years and also serves on the organization’s board of directors.

Corporate Responsibility

Business Steps Up Leadership on Climate Action as U.S. Administration Withdraws

While consensus on climate action has long been elusive, companies from diverse sectors of the economy have stepped up and pledged to protect the standards of the Paris Agreement as the U.S. administration withdraws.

Research & Reports

Black & Veatch: Water Utility Leaders Driving Toward Sustainability

Customer education, infrastructure modernization and the use of data analytics will be key tools to overcoming the water industry’s perennial challenges posed by aging infrastructure, according to Black & Veatch's 2017 Strategic Directions: Water Industry Report. A combination of investment and new business process approaches will also be critical to closing the gap between costs and consumer expectation.

Latest Campaigns

Housing affordability

We drive solutions to enable people to open doors to a safe and affordable place to call home, the foundation for wellness, dignity, and economic...

Rethinking EHS Podcast

Join us as we travel the world to uncover real stories of impact—from landfills and energy transition to workplace safety, emerging contaminants, and...

Policy and Advocacy

Policy and Advocacy content from IWBI - International Well Building Institute

Beauty Is More Beautiful Shared

Beauty Is More Beautiful Shared™ was intentionally designed to support the success of Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultants. With a message that...

SCS Consulting

Any news coming from SCS Consulting

Growth Through Sustainability

Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator with a clear purpose to boldly challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world. See how embedding...

KeyBank's Community Investment

In states where Key has a presence, there are approximately 1.7 million low- to moderate-income (LMI) households. Many LMI individuals don’t have bank...

Drawdown Georgia

Informed by Project Drawdown, the world’s leading resource for climate solutions, Drawdown Georgia is the first state-centered effort to crowdsolve...

GoDaddy | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Diverse teams build better products — period. At GoDaddy, we make apps and services that our worldwide community of entrepreneurs can relate to. Our...

GoDaddy | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

Diverse teams build better products — period. At GoDaddy, we make apps and services that our worldwide community of entrepreneurs can relate to. Our...