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Lansing's mayor wants to use wind, solar to power city buildings

(file photo)
steve carmody
/
Michigan Radio
(file photo)
(file photo)
Credit steve carmody / Michigan Radio
/
Michigan Radio
(file photo)

The mayor of Lansing wants to power all city buildings with 100% renewable energy starting with the city's new fiscal year.

Mayor Andy Schor is including the switch to primarily wind and solar power in the budget he’s introducing this week.

“We will be the first city in the state of Michigan, as far as we can tell, that will be 100% renewable energy,” says Schor. “And I think that’s really important; we have to lead by example.”

A Lansing Board of Water & Light official says roughly 99% of the power would come from solar and wind sources. 

It would cost the city more to power its 187 facilities exclusively from renewable sources. 

But Schor says that difference would decline over time.

The Lansing city council must still approve the plan.

Switching to renewable energy is part of Lansing’s Climate Action Plan.

Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor also have plans for switching completely to renewable energy sources.  

Copyright 2019 Michigan Radio

Steve Carmody has been a reporter for Michigan Radio since 2005. Steve previously worked at public radio and television stations in Florida, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and also has extensive experience in commercial broadcasting. During his two and a half decades in broadcasting, Steve has won numerous awards, including accolades from the Associated Press and Radio and Television News Directors Association. Away from the broadcast booth, Steve is an avid reader and movie fanatic.