skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Monday, February 17, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

N.Y.C. Council speaker calls on Mayor Eric Adams to resign; KY could do more to protect kids from accidental drug ingestion, shootings; OH food banks face fed funding uncertainty, DeWine budget cuts; Protesters say Trump administration actions 'cast aside democracy.'

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

On a Middle East visit, Sen. Richard Blumenthal rejects a Gaza takeover. President's Day protests erupt around the country against White House moves, and another aviation accident draws attention to recent FAA cuts.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rural America struggles with opioids and homelessness in unexpected ways, Colorado's Lariat Ditch could help spur local recreation, and book deliveries revive rural communities hit by Hurricane Helene.

MI expert discusses wind, solar surpassing coal on U.S. grid in 2024

play audio
Play

Monday, January 13, 2025   

A Michigan expert weighs in on an historic shift in 2024 - wind and solar power surpassed coal on the U.S. grid.

According to research from Ember - a nonprofit focused on advancing the transition to clean energy - from January to November of last year, renewable energy sources in the country provided a record 17% of U.S. electricity, while coal supplied 15%.

In Michigan, several coal-fired power plants have closed, with more set to come.

Dan Scripps, who chairs the Michigan Public Service Commission, said he believes economics is the largest driver of the shift.

"Coal plants, starting in sort of 2010 era, needing to start adding pretty significant pollution abatement and reduction technologies, in order to continue operating," said Scripps, "that really did have pretty fundamental impact on their price parity."

Many of the nation's coal plants were built in the 1970s and 1980s, making them some of the oldest power plants in the country.

Looking ahead, utilities are set to retire nearly 30 gigawatts of coal capacity between 2025 and 2027, marking a 12% decrease from earlier projections.

Scripps said another major factor in the shift away from fossil fuels is growing customer interest - evident through Michigan's voluntary renewable energy plans, offered by the utility companies.

"I've seen really significant uptick in participation - including, I think, two of the largest deals in U.S. history of corporate customers," said Scripps, "Ford Motor Company being the largest one, purchasing renewables through their utility. But, also just regular homeowners."

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has committed to achieving carbon-free electricity by 2040, as part of Michigan's Healthy Climate Plan.




get more stories like this via email

more stories
Data from Penn Medicine finds as of January 2024, more than 30,000 people in the U.S. have received CAR T-cell therapy since it was approved for use in 2017. (Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Some New York doctors are working on new ways to treat advanced cancers. Chimeric Antigen Receptor, or CAR, T-cell therapy treats certain blood …


Health and Wellness

play sound

The incidence of drug overdose is decreasing in Indiana and one reason could be the efforts of an organization offering free training to anyone willin…

Social Issues

play sound

By Kim Kobersmith for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for South Carolina News Service for the Daily Yonder-Public News Service Coll…


More than 48% of Wyoming is public land, owned and managed by the federal government on behalf of U.S. residents. Several state bills this session were written to try to decrease the percentage. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Wyoming is one of several Western states where some lawmakers arguing states should have more control of the federally managed public lands within the…

Environment

play sound

By S.E. Smith for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Yes! Magazine-Public News Service …

A home burns in a Los Angeles neighborhood during recent wind-driven wildfires spreading throughout several Southern California communities. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

By Amy McDermott for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for for California News Service reporting…

Social Issues

play sound

February is Library Lovers Month - and libraries across the Commonwealth are encouraging their long-time and new patrons to celebrate. Lisa Varga…

Social Issues

play sound

According to the Immigration Policy Tracking Project, the Trump administration has taken 130 actions on immigration so far this term. Groups in …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021