The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today issued an order approving $1 million in Michigan energy efficiency grants for all customer classes to seven organizations for the fiscal year beginning October 1.

"My fellow Commissioners and I are extremely pleased to announce these grants," said MPSC Chairman Orjiakor Isiogu.  "The grants awarded today will help lower energy bills, the strain on energy resources, greenhouse gases and other pollutants through the increased use and proper disposal of compact fluorescent lamps."

The Commission on April 1 issued a request for proposals for Michigan energy efficiency grants for all customer classes.  Based on its review, the MPSC awarded the following grants:

• Charter Township of Delta - $122,788 to distribute CFLs, provide educational information on the proper use and disposal of CFLs, and expand existing CFL recycling efforts in the greater Lansing area.
  
  
• Michigan Community Action Agency Association - $337,489 to supplement its existing statewide weatherization and client education program with a CFL replacement program.
  
  
• Michigan GREEN - $100,000 to provide lighting audits and upgrades for households and businesses statewide, conduct case studies, and create an interactive website that will raise public awareness of energy efficiency technologies, and provide educational information on the proper use and disposal of spent CFLs.
  
  
• Newaygo County Community Services - $110,495 to implement a "Smart Lights" program through its existing weatherization services.  The program will replace CFLs in households in Benzie, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola and Wexford counties, and educate consumers on the proper use and disposal of spent CFLs.
  
  
• Superior Watershed Partnership - $179,228 to expand its current CFL distribution program to include additional rural families throughout the Upper Peninsula, and provide educational information on the proper use and disposal of spent CFLs.
  
  
• Urban Options - $100,000 to expand its Change a Light, Change Michigan 2009 campaign to include an extensive CFL awareness and recycling campaign.
  
  
• West Michigan Environmental Action Council - $50,000 to expand its current Project Light Change program to include additional west Michigan communities, and provide educational information on the proper use and recycle of spent CFLs.

The grants are part of the Low‑Income and Energy Efficiency Fund, which provides energy bill assistance for low‑income customers and promotes the efficient use of energy by all customer classes.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.

Case No. U-13129