Michigan Citizens for Energy, the Economy and Environment (MCE3) was created in response to Traverse City Light and Power's rush to build up to four biomass power plants in Traverse City. MCE3 began meeting in the fall of 2009. We are a citizen-lead, grassroots organization, committed to stopping the rush to biomass energy in Northern Michigan and beyond. We believe that the solution lies not with building additional power plants, but with conservation and smart energy use.

Along with our members, we are working to protect Northern Michigan's forests, air, water and soil.

Petitions

We recently circulated petitions in Traverse City to give residents the right to approve or reject plans for a contentious wood-burning power plant. The petition will bring a city charter amendment on the November general election ballot. The amendment would give city residents the right to vote on Traverse City Light & Power's plans for a biomass plant and bring Traverse City Light & Power operations back under the city commission's control. Light & Power is run by its own seven-member board, though it once was a fully-contained city department.

The petitions have now been turned in. For more information, read about it in the Record-Eagle or see the interview with Margaret Dodd on 9 & 10 News.