Dive Brief:
WEC Energy Group, a major Midwestern utility, on Tuesday unveiled a series of new and more aggressive environmental goals. The Wisconsin-based power company says it is committing to a 60% reduction in carbon emissions at its electric plants by 2025, relative to 2005 levels, and an 80% drop by 2030. That’s up from its previous goal of 70% by 2030, with the utility last year having pledged to become net carbon neutral by 2050.
WEC says it plans to reach those targets in part through a $16 billion-plus capital investment plan, detailed in a newly released report on the company’s environmental goals. The plan calls for billions in investments in renewable energy projects.
Michigan looks to remove 1 percent distributed solar cap (again) solarbuildermag.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from solarbuildermag.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Facebook ads attacking a bill to expand rooftop solar in Michigan reference the failure of the electric grid in Texas. Clean energy groups have called the advertising campaign misleading and dishonest.
Credit Facebook Ad Library
Anyone scrolling Facebook in Michigan over the past week may have noticed ads attacking a new energy bill in the statehouse.
The proposed legislation would allow more people to put solar panels on their homes or businesses. It gets rid of a cap limiting how many solar installations can connect to the grid.
One of the ads reads, “Don’t let out-of-state special interests do to Michigan what they did to Texas.”
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The Gazette’s Business Notes is a compendium of the week’s promotions, new hires, certifications, added business lines and business events, among other items, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and the rest of the Corridor.
Information and photos can be submitted to Business Notes by email to businessnotes@thgazette.com, or on our site at thegazette.com/businessnotes.
New Hires
Lyndsay Hobbs joined Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust as assistant branch manager at the F Avenue, Cedar Rapids, location.
GreatAmerica in Cedar Rapids hired Jeremy Gunderson as a user support specialist; Lauren Wade, account support adviser; Melissa Rogers, director, strategic marketing; and Jared Thorson, sales tax specialist.
The Gazette’s Business Notes is a compendium of the week’s promotions, new hires, certifications, added business lines and business events, among other items, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and the rest of the Corridor.
Information and photos can be submitted to Business Notes by email to businessnotes@thgazette.com, or on our site at thegazette.com/businessnotes.
New Hires and promotions
Skywalk Group hired Julie Hartman as senior recruiter.
Skogman Realty brought on Heather Blazek, Xin Yu, Maggie Ross, Ben Magee and Grant Griffin as Realtors.
Matt Kasper was named Eastern Iowa director of sales for wireless carrier UScellular. He had held a similar position for Indiana and the New England area.