The first annual report to the Michigan legislature from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) on the impact of the 2008 Michigan Clean, Renewable, and Efficient Energy Act was filed on February 15. It found that progress toward the 10 percent renewable energy requirement is “going smoothly.” It listed all the power purchase agreements approved to date, and computed a weighted average price of $98.68/MWh, which is substantially less than originally forecasted in utility renewable energy plans. This market price is also well below the MPSC’s calculated levelized cost of $133/MWh for a new conventional coal-fired power facility. As predicted by the report, Consumers Energy has now filed an updated renewable energy plan in which it proposes lowering its renewable energy surcharge by $55 million, or approximately 72 percent, from $2.50 to $.70 per month.