Omari Rush and Foxtrot vist Sava Lelcaj at Babo - Doug Coombe | Show Photo

Alternative Energy

Accio Energy

From biofuels to batteries, the Ann Arbor area is ground zero for alternative energy research and implementation. Not only are Ypsi's residents pushing for solar energy on their municipal buildings but Ann Arbor was named by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of their 13 "Solar Cities."

But the quest for renewable power doesn't stop there. A2's Danotek is an innovator in wind turbine technology. Adaptive Materials has developed battery technology that lasts 10 times as long as conventional energy cells. And Milan is now home to a biodiesel cooperative. All these efforts may be the key to weaning the US off fossil fuels ...and Michigan's economic success.

Alternative Energy Features

Building A Plug-In Electric Vehicle Community

Denise McGeen Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Michigan's electric vehicle industry is poised to churn out more and more of the long-awaited, zero-emission vehicles. As the market grows, the AnnArbor-based Clean Energy Coalition and its partners are leading a statewide effort to make sure Michigan communities are ready for the rush.

Got Green? A Talk with Doug Selby

Tanya Muzumdar Wednesday, May 16, 2012

"Homes in America are terrible. Let's just be honest about it," says Doug Selby of Meadowlark Builders and Energy. Whether it's installing sustainable features or eliminating toxic building materials, the green home builder sees a lot of opportunity to improve the health and efficiency of local homes.

Garbage In, Energy Out: A Q&A with the Founders of ReGenerate

Jon Zemke Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Paul Davis, Bobby Levine, Hunt Briggs, and Nolan Orfield are your everyday overachieving U-M grad students. And then some. They've founded ReGenerate, a company that is developing technology to convert food waste into energy. Sound pie-in-the-sky? Not to the half dozen business competitions they've won.

Blue Goes Green

Kim North Shine Wednesday, May 04, 2011

As the region's top employer, biggest institution, and largest land owner, the University of Michigan's local influence can't be understated. So too with its green practices. From creating greater energy efficiency to shrinking its carbon footprint, Team Planet Blue is pushing forward the U's plans to make sustainability and conservation a matter of course.

MASTERMIND: Dave Konkle

Constance Crump Monday, January 10, 2011

Dave Konkle is a green pioneer. Don't believe it? Konkle was hawking wind power and solar energy back when disco was king and Towering Inferno ruled the box office. The former Ann Arbor Energy Office head is now the energy program director for the city's DDA and a much sought-after consultant, spreading the gospel on energy efficiency.

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Alternative Energy Blogs

Mike Finney

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Mike is president and CEO of Ann Arbor SPARK. A passionate advocate for the transformation of Michigan's high-tech economy he also managed the MEDC�s $1 billion Michigan Life Sciences Corridor initiative between 2000 and 2002. Mike will be wriing about who's making a difference in the Michigan and why.

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Alternative Energy Videos

SolarYpsi, Take Two

Google Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Dave Strenski's efforts and successes with SolarYpsi have been spotlighted numerous times in Concentrate. It's nice to see someone else take notice. Especially when it's Google - which produced this terrific video.

Concentrate Speaker Event: Going Green In Ann Arbor

Roger Rayle Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Everything you ever wanted to know about solar energy but were afraid to ask. Last month Concentrate's Speaker Event featured Dave Strenski and Andrew Brix talking up the policies, virtues, and challenges of going solar in Michigan. If you missed it, well, we've got the video right here. Ah, the marvels of technology.

Ypsi Goes Solar

Keith Jefferies Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Volunteers + Persistence + Sunlight = Energy Independence. In five short years Solar Ypsi has gone from a cool idea to an inspiring bit of reality. With panels mounted on Ypsi's City Hall, the local Food Co-op and its River Street Bakery, this dedicated group is teaching others about the benefits of solar energy.

Ann Arbor's Veggie Fueled Party Bus

Keith Jefferies Wednesday, October 07, 2009

The B2B Party Bus is everything sustainable new urbanist hipsters ever dreamed of: An entrepreneurial enterprise that runs small scale private transit on secondhand cooking oil in order to transport young party-goers around downtown.

A2 Mech Shop

Keith Jefferies Wednesday, July 01, 2009

It's all about playing nice together. Concentrate has reported on everything from food co-ops, to co-living communities to coworking facilities. It only seems fair to throw a little love to the A2Mech Shop, a shared technical space for entrepreneurial engineers and innovative mech heads.

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