Free Republic

Energy Department's inspector general warned that agency officials are not complying with conflict-of-interest rulesThe Department of Energy, in one of its final actions under President Joe Biden, earmarked billions of dollars in green energy loans to utility companies based in Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm's home state of Michigan—defying the agency's inspector general, who called on the Biden administration to suspend the loan program amid conflict-of-interest concerns.Some of Granholm's largest campaign benefactors during her Michigan gubernatorial campaign were among the companies receiving the hefty last-minute loans.The Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office announced Thursday that it awarded a staggering $22.9 billion...

A group launched a 2020 ballot initiative Tuesday to expand Michigan’s civil rights law to include anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people, a step that would put the issue to voters if the Republican-led Legislature does not pass the measure. Fair and Equal Michigan, a committee backed by business, political and philanthropic leaders, submitted petition language to the Board of State Canvassers. Once it is approved, the group will have until late May to collect the roughly 340,000 valid voter signatures needed to place the initiated bill before lawmakers. If legislators do not adopt the legislation — similar bills have long...

Michigan’s two largest electricity companies struck a “breakthrough agreement” last month with billionaire California environmentalist Tom Steyer to boost the Wolverine State’s clean-energy requirements. Earlier this year, Mr. Steyer had funded a ballot initiative slated for August to force Michigan’s electricity providers to source 30% of their overall sales from renewable options such as wind and solar by 2030. But under the new agreement, the utilities will aim to produce a minimum 25% of their energy from renewable sources and a further 25% from energy-efficiency measures by that same year. This 50% green-energy goal will effectively govern the state’s energy...

Ann Arbor might be on its way to becoming the solar capital of Michigan. The Ann Arbor City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a deal with DTE Energy to construct the largest solar array in the state on a 14-acre site at the city's airport. The decision came following a brief discussion with no objections raised by any of the 11 council members. "This is an exciting effort," said Mayor Christopher Taylor. "I'm so glad that we're moving forward with it. Having the largest solar field in Michigan is going to be an important thing for the city...