by
Jim MacInnes, president and CEO of
, has served as an energy policy advisor for Governors Granholm and Snyder and is nationally involved in energy conservation and renewable energy.
Hear
host,
, talk about advancements in wind energy, and Michigan's energy policy with MacInnes, here.
Located in Thompsonville, Michigan, the resort is ahead of the game when it comes to leading in energy efficiency and sustainable renewables. On top of being a designated Tesla charging destination, the resort is planning a
residence expansion project. LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices.
Planned to be named The Inn Residences, the new addition is set to have all of its heating and cooling done through an energy efficient, closed-loop groundwater heat pump system.
"We think it will be about a five year return on our investment," MacInnes says in reference to the addition. "Our philosophy is reducing risk while ensuring energy security."
Utility companies have not always been so open to investment in renewable energy sources, according to MacInnes. Advancements in technology in last five years have more than halved the price of wind energy and former weariness about the use of wind energy has dissipated.
"I used to work in that industry and the utility companies have a big job," he says. "They have to be pretty conservative with what they're doing because they have so much responsibility to customers around the state. Those looking at old data may say wind doesn't make sense. Now, people have changed their minds."
Michigan is one of more than 20 states that are a part of Governor Snyder's wind energy coalition and as a business owner, MacInnes takes an enlightening stance on high energy prices.
"High energy prices are like a tax," he says. "I don't like to see high energy prices but the beauty is that wind is lowering energy prices for businesses around the state."
Michigan's current energy infrastructure supports the expansion of the state's energy portfolio standard of at least 10 percent renewables by 2015, says MacInnes.
"Whether it's a renewable portfolio standard or an incremental goal, I would love to see more policy that increases the amount of wind energy being used in Michigan and I think the cost would be very minimal."
Cost-effective energy impacts more than residences and business owners - it determines which businesses and individuals plant and keep their roots in the state.
"Right now we have the highest residential electricity cost in the Midwest. That needs to change. There should be no controversy over energy conservation. It's hard to predict the future, but if we can develop a 'no regrets', flexible energy policy that reduces energy consumption, it will only be a positive."
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