Michigan lawmakers will decide in 2007 whether to make Michigan a leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency, including creation of a Renewable Portfolio Standard that may require that electric utilities provide a certain percentage of their power from renewable resources like wind and solar. MEC and many of its member groups support a minimum of 13% renewable electricity generation by the year 2015; and 20% by 2020.

1.     The percentage of electricity generation from renewable resources in Michigan in 2005 (the last year for which full figures are published) was:

A)    7.5%
B)    3.0%
C)    1.0%
D)    0.4%

2.     Michigan generates about 60% of its electricity from coal-fired power plants. The percentage of coal mined in Michigan, creating in-state jobs, is:

A)    Zero             
B)    4%             
C)    11%           
D)    22%

3.     Energy efficiencies like high-tech lighting, efficient machinery and appliances, and homes and offices with better insulation, heating systems and weatherproofing create Michigan jobs for contractors, installers and engineers. For every dollar spent in efficiencies, how much is saved by not having to buy that power from a utility?

A)    $1.20 in saved energy cost for every $1 spent on efficiencies
B)    $2 for every $1
C)    $6.50 for every $1
D)    $45 for every $1

4.     Michigan can ill afford to send its money to support other states’ economies; but we do just that by spending about $20 billion annually to import coal, diesel fuel, gasoline, natural gas and uranium. That equates to how much for every man, woman and child in the state each year?

A)     $20
B)    $200
C)     $2,000
D)    $20,000

5.     Coal-fired power plants are large contributors of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses that accelerate global warming. James E. Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy, one of the nation’s largest coal-burning utilities, said what in December?

A)    “Climate change is a theory that still has many holes and gaps. Until we can know for certain, restrictions on carbon dioxide are unnecessary and expensive burdens on ratepayers.”
B)    “We’ll stop emitting CO2 when they pry it from our cold, dead fingers.”
C)    “Climate change is real, and we clearly believe we are on a route to mandatory controls on carbon dioxide. We need to start now, because the longer we wait, the more difficult and expensive this is going to be.”
D)    “I don’t know about carbon dioxide, but I sure am excited to see the new Michigan Environmental Report, printed in color on 100% post-consumer content paper!”

Answers:

1. B, 3%     

2. A, No coal is mined here  

3. B, Efficiencies beat new generation of energy 2-to-1  

4. C, $2,000    

5. C, We need to start now.