$600M scrubber project begins at Monroe Power Plant
Source: metromode, 3/11/2010
Environmentally friendly work hasn't only
begun on the Monroe Power Plant, the foundation is poured and workers
bees will start buzzing in earnest now that the wintry weather has
broke.
DTE Energy
is spending $600 million to install two new flue gas desulfurization
systems, commonly known as scrubbers, on the coal-fired power plant.
The project is expected to create 900 jobs, including 600 in
construction, and $300 million in indirect economic activity in the
region.
It will also significantly reduce the release of toxic
and greenhouse gases from the facility. The scrubbers reduce a number
of emissions, including sulfur dioxide, by about 97 percent. The power
plant consists of four electricity generation units. Two of those
received scrubbers earlier this year. This project will cover the other
two units.
The Monroe Power Plant is the first coal-fired power
plant in Michigan to operate with scrubbers and selective catalytic
reduction systems, which reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by about 90
percent. When operating together on the same generating unit, the
combination also eliminates 75 to 90 percent of mercury emissions.
Source: Scott Simons, spokesman for DTE Energy
Writer: Jon Zemke
Work finishes on Royal Oak's Pink Pumps store
Source: metromode, 3/11/2010
What was once the shell of a commercial
building in downtown Royal Oak is now the city center's newest
renovation and home to a posh local retailer – Pink Pumps.
Roger
and Sergio Basmajian basically clawed out the entire inside of 309 S. Main
St. last year, leaving only two walls and a roof. The brothers then
replaced the entire interior, creating 2,500 square feet of retail
space on the ground floor and 2,500 square feet of office space on the
second floor. It was the only option, Sergio Basmajian says, for a
70-year-old unmaintained building in a downtown that has received lots
of TLC.
"We feel downtown Royal Oak is a vibrant, prosperous community," Sergio Basmajian says.
Pink Pump, a women's shoe store, occupies the ground floor. The Basmajian brothers are still looking for a tenant for the office space.
"I'm still getting calls from ad agencies and IT start-ups," Roger Basmajian says.
Source: Sergio and Roger Basmajian
Writer: Jon Zemke
Another downtown Ferndale building slated for renovation
Source: metromode, 3/11/2010
Roger and Sergio Basmajian believe in
urban development, and it's why they're focusing the efforts of their
company, Basco of Michigan, on it.
"We're looking in the urban
neighborhoods and walkable communities and seeing what's possible,"
Roger Basmajian says. "That's where we see the future, especially with
young people."
The latest project for the company is the
redevelopment of a two-story building in downtown Ferndale. The
brothers are renovating the interior for retail and breathing some more
life into the façade of 320 W 9 Mile Road. That work will include
repairing the brick and redoing the metal awning.
"It's very art deco-ish," Roger Basmajian says.
They
plan to get started on the 7,800-square-foot building by the end of
this month. Work should be done within two months. They hope to have a
restaurant in the ground floor space by the end of the year.
Basco
of Michigan has redeveloped a handful of properties in the Ferndale and
Royal Oak area. It's a partnership between the Basmajian brothers and
their father George Basmajian, who is a silent partner.
Source: Roger Basmajian, co-owner of Basco of Michigan
Writer: Jon Zemke
Streetcar USA building to become Royal Oak bistro
Source: metromode, 3/11/2010
The home of Streetcar USA is about to become a space for a new restaurant in downtown Royal Oak.
The
specialty auto-technology firm is moving to new office space in
Southfield so the owner, Michael Chetcuti, who is also principal of
Streetcar USA, can open the space up to a full-service bistro within
the next 6-8 months.
"The dramatic proportions of the space
lends itself to a restaurant or entertainment venue," Chetcuti says.
"We have rented it out so many times to bridal showers and parties over
the last three years."
That's how long ago Chetcuti saved what was often considered an
obsolete building. He put his automotive firm on the main floor and his
wine shop in the basement. Before that it had been a vacant structure
on Main Street just south of the railroad tracks.
The 4,000-square-foot St. Clair Edison building,
711 S. Main St, is 104 years old, making it one of Royal Oak's oldest.
It originally served as a power generating plant for streetcars, and
later as a warehouse.
Source: Michael Chetcuti, principal of Streetcar USA
Writer: Jon Zemke
$21M in stimulus cash for Ann Arbor, Detroit transit
Source: metromode, 3/11/2010
And now it's time for a little love for
the buses, the hardworking behemoths chugging away for the Detroit Dept
of Transportation and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.
The
two transit agencies received about $21 million in federal stimulus
funds last week, with most of that money going toward both areas' bus
systems. DDOT received $18.9 million for operating expenses.
It
will also facilitate the purchase of the agency's first hybrid buses
(four), along with another 42 diesel buses. All 44 are the normal
40-foot long buses.
AATA received about $1 million to upgrade
its bus storage area and another $700,000 to redevelop the University
of Michigan's Central Campus transit center, which serves buses. The
agency used federal stimulus funding last year to purchase four more
hybrid buses, which should come online in May.
The entire state
of Michigan received a total of $34.6 million in federal stimulus funds
for mass transit improvements last week.
Source: U.S. Dept of Transportation
Writer: Jon Zemke
Dearborn evaluates sustainability program options
Source: metromode, 3/11/2010
The city of Dearborn is looking at taking
on a number of green initiatives ranging from enhanced recycling to LED
streetlights and has six figures worth of federal grant money to get it
started.
The city received a $250,000 federal grant (thank you
federal stimulus package) last year to determine the feasibility for a
number of green initiatives. Those options include possibly
establishing a waste-to-energy plant in the city, going to
single-stream recycling, and installing LED streetlights.
Only a
small part of that $250,000 grant has been used. That grant is also the
first part of a $970,800 grant to help implement some of these green
initiatives and create a sustainability position in the city.
The
waste-to-energy plant isn't your normal dirty Detroit-style
incinerator. Dearborn is looking at a gasification plans that doesn't
actually burn the refuse. The city is also looking at an anerobic
digestor for its sludge waste.
Installing 300-350 LED
streetlights in its neighborhoods is another option. LED streetlights,
which use a fraction of the electricity and last longer than
incandescent light bulbs, are the green cause de jour. Ann Arbor has grabbed numerous headlines with its efforts to install these lights throughout its downtown. Pontiac has also installed LEDs, and a number of other cities such as Ferndale, Wyandotte, and Detroit have toyed with the idea.
Dearborn
is also planning to switch to single-stream recycling. That is where
recyclers put all of their recycling into one container (no more
sorting) and the city sorts it at the recycling plant.
"The money could be used to buy the recycling cars," says David Norwood, sustainability coordinator for the city of Dearborn.
Source: David Norwood, sustainability coordinator for the city of Dearborn
Writer: Jon Zemke
Warm Training Center, Clean Energy share in $200K block grant
Source: metromode, 3/11/2010
Non-profits from Detroit, Ann Arbor, and
Ypsilanti are splitting the lion's share of a $195,996 state grant to
promote municipal sustainability.
The Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth
awarded the money, which originated from the federal stimulus package,
to four non-profits. They include the Michigan Municipal League
Foundation of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti-based Clean Energy Coalition, and
WARM Training Center.
The latter is a 30-year-old Detroit-based
non-profit that helps people make their homes and businesses more
energy efficient and implement alternative energy generators. It
received $59,400 to help small municipalities (35,000 residents or
less) in southeast Michigan become more energy efficient in their
facilities.
"The focus is definitely energy efficiency," says Bob Chapman, executive director of the WARM Training Center. "However, we broadened it to any type of green technology and reducing green house emissions."
The Clean Energy Coalition received $58,300 to support 37 communities in south and south-central Michigan. The Michigan Municipal League Foundation received $58,296 to support 36 communities in the southwest, west and northern portions of the state. East Lansing-based Michigan Energy Options received $20,000 to support 12 communities in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Source:
Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, & Economic Growth and Bob
Chapman, executive director of the WARM Training Center
Writer: Jon Zemke
U-M's North Quad construction heads into home stretch
Source: Concentrate, 3/11/2010
The finishing touches are going on the
University of Michigan's first new dorm in decades, North Quad, so it
can open to students this fall.
Excerpt:
In case
you haven't noticed the big, brick building taking shape on the north
side of the University of Michigan's Central Campus, North Quad is
heading into the final stages of construction.
"We're really in
the finishing mode," says Sue Gott, planner for the University of
Michigan. "All of the interior walls and structures are in place."
Read the rest of the story here.