Reducing Energy Costs and Saving Money for Residents

Reducing Energy Costs and Saving Money for Residents

by | Jan 23, 2024 | Regional News

Reducing Energy Costs and Saving Money for Residents Goal of New Oakland SAVES Grant Program

Post Date:01/23/2024 9:20 AM
  • Applications are now open for Oakland SAVES, Oakland County’s $5 million grant program to help working families make energy-saving home improvements.
  • Some of the environmentally sustainable upgrades that are eligible for the grants include insulation, weatherstripping, ENERGY STAR HVAC, doors, and windows.

Jan. 23, 2024, Pontiac, Mich. –  Applications are now open for the Oakland SAVES grant program, a collaboration of Oakland County and Michigan Saves, the first nonprofit green bank in the United States, to improve energy efficiency in at least 1,000 income-qualified and other households within the county. To apply, go to michigansaves.org/oaklandsaves/ or call 517-484-6474.

“At least 1,000 households in Oakland County will be able to make needed improvements to their homes, which will make them more energy efficient in all sorts of weather and help them save money on their utility bills,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “This program, funded with federal American Rescue Plan dollars, benefits not only our residents but will result in a reduction in carbon emissions and that translates into a cleaner and more sustainable environment in the long run.”

There are two tiers of grants. The first will utilize $4 million for grants of up to $5,000 for income-qualified households. The second will use the remaining $1 million to pay up to 20 percent of a sustainable home improvement, capping out at $3,000, for any Oakland County household.

Tier one will serve residents whose income doesn’t qualify for free services from the federal Weatherization Assistance Program and most utility income-qualified programs but struggle to qualify for traditional financing. These homeowners exist within every community and are overlooked when it comes to energy assistance programs. Many of these homeowners are making ends meet but are just one emergency expense away from financial difficulty.

Some of the environmentally sustainable upgrades eligible for the Oakland SAVES grants include attic insulation, air sealing, door weatherstripping, and duct insulation. It also includes ENERGY STAR doors, windows, water heaters, air conditioners and furnaces. Program participants may also make building code or health and safety improvements associated with installing energy-efficient upgrades.

The Oakland SAVES program will be available until Dec. 31, 2025, or until the funds are exhausted. The Oakland County Board of Commissioners, working with the Coulter administration and Chief Sustainability Officer Erin Quetell, appropriated $5 million of the county’s American Recovery Plan (ARP) funds last November for the Oakland SAVES (Simple Actions for Valuable Energy Savings) grant program.

Make the Department of Defense work for Michigan

Make the Department of Defense work for Michigan

by | Jan 23, 2024 | Regional News

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Hi there,

Great news: the Office of Rep. Elissa Slotkin is now accepting submissions for the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – the bill with programs and policies for the Department of Defense.

To make a submission click HERE. 

The NDAA is a piece of legislation Congress passes each year that sets recommended funding levels and policy for the Department of Defense, including our military. And as a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congresswoman Slotkin and our staff work closely on the bill for months.

Each year, the Congresswoman accepts submissions and ideas from constituents for the NDAA to ensure that they have a voice on the final product and that the legislation works for Michigan.

In previous years, some of the provisions that she has secured and passed into law through the bill include:

  • Testing for PFAS at sites in Michigan contaminated by DoD activity.
  • Securing critical elements of our military’s defense supply chain, including ensuring domestic supplies of key pharmaceuticals.
  • Ensuring that U.S. military bases, including Selfridge Air National Guard Base, are adequately resourced and equipped to safeguard U.S. national security interests in the homeland and abroad.
  • Pushing back on Chinese-made autonomous vehicles to protect Michigan’s auto industry.
  • Providing funds to advance research, development, testing, and evaluation for new and emerging technologies across the military services, which will support Michigan’s defense industrial base.

So if you or someone you know has an idea that could make an impact in Michigan, let us know! It could make it into federal law.

– Office of Rep. Elissa Slotkin
Donni Steele Fundraiser – February 8

Donni Steele Fundraiser – February 8

by | Jan 23, 2024 | Regional News

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and Holiday Season with your loved ones. I wish you all the very best throughout 2024.

Thank you to all of you who have supported me throughout the years. Your encouragement and support are monumental. I cannot thank you enough.

This year, I am up for re-election to the Michigan State House. During my first term, I have focused on important issues for my constituents: roads, infrastructure, supporting small businesses, government transparency, and responsible spending.

Please join me on Thursday, February 8th, for my Valentine’s fundraiser at Chuck Moss’s private residence. You can purchase tickets online at: https://secure.anedot.com/friends-of-donni-steele/donate.

If you cannot make it to this event and would like to donate still, please donate online at https://secure.anedot.com/friends-of-donni-steele/donate

Thank you for your continued friendship and support,

Donni
House District 54
 Located completely within Oakland County, District 54 covers:
  • Auburn Hills, Precincts 1-3, 5-9
  • City of Bloomfield Hills, Precincts 1,2
  • Bloomfield Township, Precincts 2-9, 12
  • Oakland Township, Precincts 5,7
  • All of Orion Township, Precincts 1-15.
Tax Filing Season Officially Begins Jan. 29

Tax Filing Season Officially Begins Jan. 29

by | Jan 23, 2024 | Regional News

Treasury Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 23, 2023

Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167

Treasury: Michigan’s Individual Income Tax Filing Season Officially Begins on Monday, Jan. 29

 State and Federal Individual Income Tax Return Deadline is April 15, 2024

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Treasury announced today that Monday, Jan. 29, will be the official start date of the 2024 tax season when the agency will begin processing individual income tax returns.

Individuals can file their state income tax return online, with a tax professional or by mailing in paper forms and documentation. All state of Michigan income tax returns and payment of any taxes owed must be received by April 15, 2024.

For the convenience of taxpayers, the state’s individual income tax deadline is the same date set by the Internal Revenue Service.

“The individual income tax season is rapidly approaching,” said Deputy State Treasurer Kavita Kale, who oversees Treasury’s Revenue Services program areas. “The Michigan Department of Treasury will be ready to process your return when the filing season begins later this month. We will work as fast as practical to process your return and issue refunds, especially with some of the recent changes to state law regarding the Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit for Working Families and the Retirement Tax rollback.”

All employers are required to mail previous year income record forms – W-2s and 1099s – to their employees by Jan. 31. End-of-the-year pay stubs should not be used when filing a state income tax return because they are typically not an accurate reflection of all income received.

Taxpayers who rush to file without all the necessary paperwork will need to file an amended return later. State income tax returns filed without the required paperwork will be placed on hold for future processing and review.

Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit (Michigan EITC) for Working Families

Michigan’s 2023 tax return, forms, and instructions reflect the expansion of Michigan EITC for Working Families from 6% to 30% under the Lowering MI Costs Plan.

Although the law will not take effect until Feb. 13, 2024, taxpayers eligible for the Michigan EITC should not delay in filing their tax year 2023 return and claiming the expanded credit. Treasury will work impacted returns as they are received and prepare them for release as soon as the law takes effect.

Tax Year 2022 Michigan EITC Supplemental Checks

On Feb. 13, 2024, Treasury will begin issuing supplemental check payments over a 5-to-6-week period to provide eligible taxpayers with the remaining 24% portion of the Michigan ETIC for the 2022 tax year.

These paper check payments will be issued to the most recent address on file with Treasury. Treasury routinely updates taxpayer address records based on current tax filings, so your address should be up to date. However, if you have moved frequently or recently and have concerns about your address accuracy, you can manually update it through IIT eService. Visit how to change your address with Treasury for more information.

Do not file an amended 2022 individual income tax return to change your address or claim the increased Michigan EITC.

“Retirement Tax” Rollback

The Lowering MI Costs Plan provides taxpayers with more options so they can choose the best taxing situation for their retirement benefits for the 2023 tax year.

Over a four-year phase-in, this new law restores the pre-2012 retirement and pension subtraction for most taxpayers in Michigan beginning in 2026. The change will benefit more retirees in Michigan while ensuring taxpayers in unique circumstances are not harmed.

Retirees can file and take advantage of the expanded retirement and pension subtraction options at the start of tax season, which saves taxpayers time and eliminates the need or expense of filing an amended return after the law takes effect. For that reason, eligible retirees should not delay in filing their tax year 2023 return and claiming the most advantageous pension and retirement benefit subtraction.

Treasury will work impacted returns as they are received and prepare them for release as soon as the law takes effect on Feb. 13, 2024.

For More Information

To learn more about Michigan’s individual income tax, go to www.michigan.gov/incometax or follow Treasury on X, formerly Twitter, or on LinkedIn.
Case Saves DTE Gas Customers $650,000

Case Saves DTE Gas Customers $650,000

by | Jan 22, 2024 | Regional News

Nessel Email Header
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

January 22, 2024

Media Contact:
Danny Wimmer

AG Nessel Intervention in Cost Recovery Case Saves DTE Gas Customers $650,000

LANSING – Last Thursday, January 18, 2024, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) issued its final order in DTE’s 2021-22 Gas Cost Recovery (GCR) Reconciliation Case, highlighted by ordering a $656,602 disallowance sought by Attorney General Dana Nessel.

The case, MPSC e-docket Case No. U-20817, was originally filed in mid-2022, wherein DTE cited significant under-recovery of gas costs from customers and sought to recoup those costs. Attorney General Nessel intervened in the case and her team and expert witnesses carefully examined the entire filing. Upon review, the Department of Attorney General discovered that DTE was requesting to charge residential customers more than $650,000 for the company’s decision to waive certain financial penalties for several large end-use transportation customers. DTE provided no authority for its ability to waive the penalties and correspondingly pass those costs on to residential customers.

In her testimony, Nessel argued that it would be improper to charge residential customers for these costs, and that if DTE desired to waive these penalties it should be company shareholders who bear the cost and not residential DTE ratepayers. In a proposal for decision the Administrative Law Judge in charge of the case agreed with the Attorney General, and in its final decision the MPSC upheld that finding and recommendation.

“I am very appreciative of the time and attention to detail that my team puts into these cases,” said Nessel. “At a time when the largest utilities in the state are filing one rate case after another, seeking what amounts to annual rate hikes, it is important to remain vigilant and ensure ratepayers are not being asked to pay for costs that are wholly unrelated to the service they receive. That is what DTE attempted here, to gift financial penalty waivers to select customers and force their residential ratepayers to foot the bill. I applaud my team for catching this unreasonable request and also the MPSC for correctly rejecting it.”

Since taking office, the Attorney General has helped saved Michigan consumers nearly $3 billion by intervening in utility cases before the MPSC.

DTE provides natural gas to 1.3 million customers across the state and electricity to approximately 2.2 million customers in Southeast Michigan.
Basketball Top 23

Basketball Top 23

by | Jan 22, 2024 | Feature Writers, High School Sports

Basketball Top 23.

Written Saturday January 20th at 9:40 AM

Updated Saturday January 20th at 10:50 PM

Here is the top 23.

Records are updated.

Boys

  1. North Farmington (11-0): Dylan Smith has really helped out the Raiders.
  2. Troy (10-1): Andrew Lake has been the most impactful besides the Big Three for the Colts.
  3. West Bloomfield (8-5): Lakers have been a different team since losing to North Farmington.
  4. Ferndale (6-5): Trenton Ruth had a monster game including a buzzer beater against Clarkston.
  5. Clarkston (6-6): Wolves have lost four in a row which is unheard of.
  6. Adams (8-4): Highlanders have lost three straight which is surprising.
  7. Berkley (9-3): Bears are starting to hit their stride.
  8. Troy Athens (10-3): Red Hawks are rolling right now.
  9. Lake Orion (9-4): Dragons will be fine after a really tough loss to Harper Woods.
  10. Groves (4-8): Life in the Red is never easy but they are 4-3 outside the division.
  11. Farmington (5-6): Greg Grays is the real deal for the Falcons.
  12. Avondale (9-4): Jordan Clayton has been a solid surprise for the Yellow Jackets.
  13. Oxford (7-4): Wildcats need some other than Jake Champagne to step up.
  14. Oak Park (3-6): Knights haven’t played in a week.
  15. Harper Woods (4-7): Pioneers have been solid at home but on the road will be the test.
  16. Royal Oak (8-5): Ravens have been up and down lately.
  17. Pontiac (4-7): Phoenix have been up and down lately.
  18. Seaholm (3-8): Maples were competitive in their loss to Troy.
  19. Stoney Creek (3-8): Evan Woodward could be a perfect complement to Tre Walker.
  20. Rochester (3-10): Max Mohl continues to perform at a high level for the Falcons.
  21. Bloomfield Hills (2-9): Blackhawks might have found something in their win over Southfield Arts and Tech.
  22. Ferndale University (2-9): Eagles played much better than in recent weeks.
  23. Southfield Arts and Tech (2-10): Warriors are really struggling right now.

 

 

 

Girls

  1. West Bloomfield (9-0): Lakers rolling along.
  2. Stoney Creek (9-0): Cougars have been living on the edge lately.
  3. Royal Oak (7-1): Ravens haven’t played in a while.
  4. Clarkston (10-3): Wolves still have some concerns despite win over Lake Orion.
  5. Ferndale (7-2): Eagles have easiest part of schedule, might not get tested until the postseason.
  6. Lake Orion (7-2): Dragons defense is a serious concern right now.
  7. Southfield Arts and Tech (7-2): Warriors got back on track after a tough loss to West Bloomfield.
  8. Berkley (7-3): Bears balance is really showing right now.
  9. Oxford (6-4): Wildcats had been playing really good basketball lately.
  10. Rochester (3-5): Falcons played much better despite loss to Stoney Creek.
  11. Seaholm (5-4): Maples have been a much different team since loss to Stoney Creek.
  12. Troy Athens (5-6): Red Hawks have shown they will be a tough out for anyone.
  13. Bloomfield Hills (3-5): Blackhawks might be back.
  14. Groves (3-6): Falcons have been up and down lately.
  15. North Farmington (7-3): Raiders have been up and down lately.
  16. Troy (4-7): Olivia Sprangler has been the X factor for the Colts.
  17. Avondale (3-6): Yellow Jackets needed a win in the worst way and got it over Pontiac.
  18. Harper Woods (4-3): Pioneers haven’t played in a while.
  19. Adams (3-8): Highlanders are in a bit of a rut right now.
  20. Pontiac (3-7): Phoenix are struggling a little bit.
  21. Farmington (1-8): Falcons are really struggling right now.
  22. Oak Park (0-6): Knights haven’t played in a while.
  23. Ferndale University (0-8): Eagles are really struggling right now.