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Date Posted: March 9 2018

Bowling benefit for U-M cancer center 

CHELSEA  – The Ann Arbor Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Center’s Union 4 Life breast cancer charity will host its annual Charity Bowling Night on Saturday, April 14 at the Airport Lanes Bowling Complex in Jackson.

Tickets for the event are $30 per person or $55 per couple and include 3 games, shoe rental costs and dinner. Activities at the event will include bowling, a silent auction, 50/50 raffle and a cash bar. All proceeds from the event go to the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Breast Cancer Research program.

“The Bowling Night is a great family-friendly event for all ages,” Union 4 Life member Pat Ulanowicz said. “You can come out, listen to music and spend quality time with your whole family while supporting a great cause.”

Founded in 2012 by the AAEJATC Training Director John Salyer and the AAEJATC/IBEW Local 252 Apprentices, Union 4 Life has raised more than $70,000 for the cancer center. The charity has raised $20,000 each year for two consecutive years, and it is hoping to increase that number in 2018.

“The events we host and the money we raise all go directly toward funding breast cancer research,” Union 4 Life Public Relations Director Hope Salyer said. “Our donations help get research started at UMCCC before grants can be obtained, which allows the doctors to focus on their research rather than worry about getting funded.”

Union 4 Life has hosted many fundraising events to help raise money including annual golf outings, 5k walk/runs, bowling tournaments, sporting clays, archery shoots and motorcycle poker runs. The charity’s next fundraiser will be the 5th Annual Charity Golf Outing at Eagle Crest Golf Course in Ypsilanti, Mich. on Saturday, April 14, 2018.

For more information on the Bowling Night or 5th Annual Golf Outing visit www.facebook.com/Union4LifeCharity or www.union4lifecharity.wixsite.com/home.


Goodbye coal, says Consumers Energy 


JACKSON - Consumers Energy closed seven of its twelve coal-fired generating plants in Michigan in 2016 – more than any investor-owned utility that year, resulting in a 38 percent carbon intensity reduction from 2008 levels. And they're just getting started with removing coal from their supply chain.

On Feb. 19, Consumers Energy announced that the utility has adopted a goal of an 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions and zero use of coal by 2040.

“Our actions speak louder than words and we have a track record of doing more than is required," said Patti Poppe, president and CEO of Consumers Energy & CMS Energy. "Our actions to date have reduced our carbon intensity by 38 percent, reduced our water usage by 35 percent and avoided over one million cubic yards of landfill disposal. We are still not satisfied. The goals announced today represent our further commitment to leave Michigan far better than we found it, because we live here, too,” 

Consumers Energy said it is "embracing a cleaner, leaner vision focused primarily on reducing energy usage and adding additional renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar." The utility owns and operates two wind farms – the Lake Winds and Cross Winds energy parks – and operates two utility-scale solar projects at Western Michigan and Grand Valley State universities. In addition, the company utilizes energy from the Apple Blossom wind park; and co-owns the Ludington Clean Pumped Storage facility, a hydroelectric plant on Lake Michigan.

The company is also investing in modernizing its natural gas infrastructure across the state, which is more safely delivering energy to Michigan customers while reducing greenhouse gas emissions as gas is transported.