Street Talk

A new day in the sun

Low-cost medicine. BUSINESS JOURNAL STAFF

Michigan’s two largest energy providers came together last week to launch a program dubbed “MI Community Solar,” a first-in-thenation education campaign to promote the efforts of large and diverse communities of Michiganders going solar together.

The project is designed to educate Michiganders about existing and future opportunities to participate in renewable energy programs through a regulated and shared energy system. The MI Community Solar public education campaign will include experts from DTE Energy and Consumers Energy telling the story of their historic voluntary investments being made together by a statewide community of solar subscribers, growing Michigan’s green energy future and offering everyone the same opportunity to go solar together.

Together, Michigan’s utilities are investing billions of dollars into new community solar projects over the next few years, with more in the pipeline. MI Community Solar programs, such as DTE’s MIGreenPower offering in southeast Michigan and Consumers Energy’s Solar Gardens in three locations throughout Michigan, including Grand Valley State and Western Michigan universities, allow Michiganders to use clean energy for a few dollars a month.

“MI Community Solar is an inclusive, equitable approach to building a community of solar participants, powered by all of us and supporting a greener future for Michigan,” said Sarah Nielsen, executive director, transportation, renewables and storage, at Consumers Energy. “We’re also building sustainable communities by supporting good union jobs going to local workers — because we must ensure that the transition to a green economy is just, and that workers are not left behind.”

Michigan’s energy companies are focused on innovating to support customer preferences and driving the future of clean energy investments. In recent years both companies have made significant across-the-board investments to strengthen climate resiliency and offer new opportunities for customers to participate in sustainable options to drive a cleaner, greener future for Michigan’s power.

“MI Community Solar is not just about the great work we’re doing today to build communities of solar users; it’s about more solar projects to come from DTE and other Michigan energy companies,” said Brian Calka, director of renewable energy solutions at DTE Energy. “Non-regulated local energy projects have the potential to drive higher costs to Michigan consumers. We are also moving at a much faster pace gaining economies of scale that can’t be replicated in the private market.”

The program will highlight how Michigan’s leading energy companies are investing in community solar projects, building some of the Midwest’s largest solar parks and increasing renewable energy access to traditionally underserved communities.

Cat’s meow

Two Grand Rapids brothers have a hand in developing a dating app specifically for cat-lovers.

Tabby is a dating app developed by Emberly Digital, a web and software development company founded by brothers Cameron and Collin Versluis out of Grand Rapids. About Tabby, the Versluis brothers said they’re “proud to have our pawprints all over it.”

And if things went well over the weekend, they’ll have a lot more to be proud of.

As part of National Cat Day on Oct. 29, the creators were scheduled to appear on ABC’s “Shark Tank” and make their pitch for substantial investment in the project.

“Cat-lovers want to cut to the chase and find someone who is compatible with their cat-forward lifestyle,” said Leigh Isaacson D’Angelo, co-Founder and CEO of Tabby — The Cat Person’s Dating App, and Dig — The Dog Person’s Dating App. “No matter what (happened) on ‘Shark Tank,’ we’re excited to tell the world we’re not kitten around. We’re here to help cat-people find love.”

The Versluis brothers are chief technical officers on the Dig app, too.

According to Tabby’s executive team, the time is right for a catthemed app with the following research in mind: •One in five relationships now start on dating apps. •More than 30% of American adults have tried online dating. •Dating apps are the second-most popular way for heterosexual couples to meet, and it’s the most popular way for homosexual couples to meet for committed relationships. •The niche dating app market is growing fast because people want to find someone they know they have something in common with right away. More than half of all single Americans are pet owners.

When in need

The Michigan Cannabis Manufacturers Association board unanimously passed a resolution that encourages its members to create programs to offer cannabis products at low or no cost to patients who are severely ill or have terminal illnesses. Each member company will determine whether, when and how to implement individual programs in their retail locations.

“Just like any other form of medicine, patients with cancer and other severe or terminal illnesses deserve to know their cannabis has met the highest standards for testing, tracking, licensing and safety — and our members’ products do just that,” said Stephen Linder, MCMA executive director. “Michigan’s patients rely on cannabis as medicine and deserve to know where their cannabis comes from and what’s in it. We encourage our member companies to assess the specific needs of these patients in their communities and help ensure they have access to safe, tested cannabis products.”

The MCMA program follows the lead of the pharmaceutical industry to make sure patients in greatest need are able to obtain medicine that is tested, labeled, tracked and licensed.

Linder said the program reflects key components of the bipartisan Michigan Cannabis Safety Act, which helps ensure all patients and consumers in Michigan have access to cannabis products that are tested, clearly labeled, tracked and licensed.

The MCMA resolution reads, in part: “The membership of the MCMA is committed to making sure that patients and children with chronic illnesses such as cancer, auto immune diseases, autism, and many other chronic or terminal illnesses should have access to safe, tested and cost-effective medical cannabis products.”

While the association support the resolution, it will be up to individual distributors to determine participation and pricing.