Image: MEECA members enjoying a fine summer day at Hawk Hollow Golf Course.
Eighty-four people participated in this year’s Summer Golf Outing on July 10th. For the third straight year, Hawk Hollow’s popular course provided the backdrop and the weather cooperated fully. Following the 18-hole scramble, the day ended with an awards reception in the clubhouse. Once again the annual fundraiser combined valuable networking with the chance to enjoy the Michigan summer in a beautiful setting. Pictures from this year’s Golf Outing are available at the MEECA website.
Oakland County Manufacturing Day, which showcases modern manufacturing careers to high school students across the region, won “Best in Category” Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo).
Have you ever tried to make a list of everyone that affects or is affected by your company? It can be quite a daunting task; but, one that can greatly impact your success. Identifying stakeholders in a company or a specific project will allow you to holistically analyze your goals, needs, and challenges and make sure you put your limited resources to the right initiatives.
Broadly, stakeholders can be thought of in two groups: Internal and external, individuals or organizations that impact or are impacted by your organization. While the exact list will be specific to each business, generally this can include:
Eighteen year old Ousmane Bah has sued Apple after he was falsely accused of felonies in multiple states, including Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Delaware. The arrests allegedly resulted from Bah’s image being mismatched to the identity of the true suspect through facial recognition software used in Apple’s retail stores. Apparently, the true suspect had presented Bah’s interim driving permit (that didn’t include a photo) as identification during one of the crimes.
Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to meet and mingle with other professionals in Michigan’s energy efficiency industry. We hope you can join us at Hawk Hollow on Wednesday, July 10th!
Contractor Toolkit
Energy-Efficient Commercial Building Deduction, Section 179D. Some MEECA members are wondering about the status of this popular federal tax incentive that was enacted with the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The short answer is that 179D does not apply to current projects. That said, older projects may still qualify and there is a reasonable chance that the incentive will be renewed. For a recent update, check out this recorded webinar.
Online PACE Contractor Training. MEECA member company Lean & Green Michigan (LAGM) now offers online training to become a PACE-certified energy contractor. Re-certification with the latest updates in the Michigan PACE market is also available. This convenient training includes a 3-part webinar series followed by a 15-question multiple choice quiz. Benefits of PACE certification include being listed on the LAGM website, receiving referrals to potential PACE projects, and learning more about the marketplace. Sign up today for this valuable training opportunity.
Video Presentations by Jim Newman. Jim Newman with MEECA member company Newman Consulting Group, LLC is a recognized expert in efficient building design and practices. Check out Jim’s advice about how to design a healthier, more profitable building with better coordination among architects, engineers and owners.
Brandy Brown, Ph.D. has been tapped to lead Michigan’s new Office of Climate and Energy. Formerly with MEECA member company CLEAResult, Dr. Brown is familiar with the central role of efficiency in reducing carbon emissions. Under her direction, the office within the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) will coordinate Michigan’s response to climate change across state departments and agencies, and provide recommendations, guidance and assistance on climate change mitigation, adaptation and resiliency strategies. Learn more about Dr. Brown’s appointment in EGLE’s press release.
New Task Force to Examine Upper Peninsula Energy Issues. Gov. Whitmer has formed an advisory group within the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to focus on UP-specific energy issues such as high electricity prices and the heavy reliance on propane for heating. Most of this propane comes through Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline that the administration describes as an “ever-present threat” to the Great Lakes. See Executive Order 2019-14 for more information about the 13-member task force and its assignment.
EE-Related News
October 2nd is National Energy Efficiency Day. Sign up to be a supporter and prepare now to engage in the 4th annual Energy Efficiency Day. This is an opportunity to join others across the nation to highlight the benefits of saving energy—lower utility bills, more comfortable buildings, more jobs and economic growth, cleaner air. Tools will be available to share information with your networks using email, newsletters, Facebook and Twitter. Share your efficiency tips, projects, case studies and stories using the #EEDay2019 hashtag. Reach out to state and local leaders for proclamations. To learn more, contact Monique Hanis at mhanis@aee.net or 202-391-0884.
Energy Use in the Cannabis Industry. As reported by Great Lakes Echo, Michigan officials are examining energy regulations for the state’s recreational marijuana industry following the state’s recent legalization of recreational marijuana. In particular, grow lights are expected to significantly increase the demand for electricity. In a related story, FairWarning found that only two of eleven states that have legalized cannabis—Massachusetts and Illinois—have adopted energy efficiency standards for indoor growing.
Detroit Releases its Sustainability Action Agenda. The City of Detroit has launched a new sustainability roadmap focused on achieving affordable and healthy homes, clean and connected neighborhoods, and stewardship of natural resources. It seeks to build on decades of progress already made by a number of organizations throughout the city. Improving access to utility efficiency programs is a key action listed in the agenda. To learn more, visit the Detroit Sustainable Action Agenda website.
EE Financing Updates:
Michigan Saves Releases Annual Report. Total investment approaching $200 million was reported through 2018 by Michigan Saves. About three-fourths of this money supported residential projects. Click to obtain the full report.
The Bottom Line of Commercial Energy Efficiency Financing. Michigan Saves recently published a useful summary of its commercial financing options that are currently available.
Battle Creek YMCS finances with PACE. The first PACE project in Calhoun County has been announced. This $1.3 million investment will enable the facility to cut total electricity use nearly in half and save more than $3.2 million over the next 22 years. An online case study of this project demonstrates how PACE can help nonprofits reduce their operating costs and devote more resources to core mission.
“The thing I’ve noticed in boxing is that it is always the B fighter who finds himself on the losing end when a fight is stopped due to some irregularity.” This remark was uttered by the late Cedric Kushner, still relatively early in his boxing career as a manager-promoter when, while waiting for a flight at Chicago’s Midway Airport following a fight the previous night in 1984 in which Tony Tucker had been awarded a two-round stoppage win over Dave Johnson.
On Thursday, May 23rd at The Crowne Plaza Lansing West Hotel, the Michigan Economic Development Association (MEDA) held their Annual Event to update members on economic development in Michigan, hear from keynote speakers and provided networking sessions for all attendees. The event proves to be an important meeting for the professional Michigan economic development community year after year.
Successful event featured speakers, networking and exhibitors using POWER of PACE financing for greater Net Operating Income (NOI), building valuation and comfort/wellness of inhabitants, while lowering operation/maintenance costs, costs of capital and transitioning to a smaller building carbon footprint.
WELCOME MESSAGES
Bali Kumar, CEO of Lean & Green Michigan, the state’s PACE administrator, welcomed attendees to the event. It’s evident of the great interest in PACE due to the large number of participants at the first ever event held in Michigan.
Sustainable Brands reveals program, networking and activity highlights for its upcoming global flagship conference: SB’19 Detroit. More than 2,500 business leaders will convene June 3-6 at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit to participate in the largest global gathering of brands transforming the economy through sustainable innovation.
A federal court in New Jersey has lifted a preliminary injunction enjoining former ADP salesmen from engaging in certain conduct alleged by ADP to violate non-compete provisions in their employment agreements. The injunction had been originally entered in June, 2016, months after Jordan Lynch and John Halpin left their employment with ADP. The restrictive covenants were contractually limited to one year, subject to tolling.
ADP conceded and the court ruled that the preliminary injunction should be discontinued as to Lynch because more a year had passed and Lynch never violated the preliminary injunction.
Within a few days after leaving ADP, Halpin started working for an ADP competitor and solicited several ADP clients from January 2016 through June, 2017. The court found that some of Halpin’s contacts with ADP clients during that time violated the preliminary injunction. The court rejected ADP’s argument that Halpin continued to violate the preliminary injunction by working for the competitor, thereby tolling the one year period, as there was no evidence that Halpin solicited any ADP clients between July 1, 2017 and October 17, 2018, a period of more than one year.
Read the court’s opinion here. Contact us at Ossian Law regarding any information technology law question.