New money floated for new Soo Lock
In the Consolidated Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2009 that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 25 the first funding for the start of construction for a new lock at Sault Ste. Marie was buried.

According to the office of U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) there were nearly $30 million in funding for Michigan projects in the measure, include $17 million for the Soo lock project. If it survives scrutiny by the U.S. Senate and wins President Barack Obama’s signature, the money would be used to pay for cofferdam construction needed to prevent water flow into the old and obsolete Sabin and Davis locks. The old locks are where the new “superlock” is to be built.

The new lock would be a twin to the existing 1,000-foot Poe Lock, and act as a backup in case of a malfunction.

The entire lock project has been estimated at over $500 million. Over the last 13 years the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has invested $20 million in engineering and designing it. Though the cofferdams will only be a small portion of the overall effort, Congressman Stupak said they “will really get the Soo lock off the board.”

(From MichiganConstructionNews.com)

Senate Republicans oppose EFCA
Not that it’s going anywhere, but a resolution opposing the Employee Free Choice Act was adopted by the Republican-dominated Michigan Senate on Feb. 19. The vote came down along party lines, 20 Republicans- yes, 16 Democrats- no.

The Employee Free Choice Act would make it easier for unions to organize workplaces by allowing workers to use the simpler card-signing method to vote. A secret ballot system would also be available to workers.

The symbolic resolution has no chance of passing the Democrat majority in the Michigan House or get approval from Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm – and it’s a federal issue anyway. The Employee Free Choice Act is expected to be a political hot potato later this year, with the big business community rabidly opposing the law.

A statement from the Michigan AFL said the resolution “shows that Republicans do not care about workers, they only care about their friends in big business.” The state AFL-CIO called on the Michigan House to adopt a resolution in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

DTE reveals plans For renewable power
On March 5, DTE Energy Co. disclosed plans to add 1,200 megawatts in electricity capacity from renewable resources by 2015.

Most of the electricity is to be generated by wind turbines. The utility has obtained easements on over 50,000 acres of land in Michigan’s Thumb area, mainly in Huron County, to build wind farms.

DTE also indicated it will pursue 20 megawatts in electrical capacity from two solar energy pilot projects. The utility indicated it will be setting up energy efficiency programs and working with third party energy producers in meeting the state’s renewable energy goals.

To pay for the program that utility has proposed a renewable energy surcharge of up to $3.85 per month for Detroit Edison residential customers and $1.20 per month for MichCon residential customers.