Michigan heating bills hit greenhouses

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HEATING BILLS HIT GREENHOUSES

From Tribune News Services

February 12, 2001 COMSTOCK, MICHIGAN -- Greenhouses are among the businesses hit hard by cold temperatures and high heating bills.

Owners are praying for sunshine and an early thaw.

"My guess is the pain is going to be felt throughout most of the industry," said Ken Nye, Michigan Farm Bureau commodity specialist.

Long before the current crisis, Green Dorr Greenhouses in Dorr and Panse Greenhouse in Kalamazoo were among those insulated from rapidly rising natural gas prices by Consumers Energy rates, which were frozen at $2.84 per 1,000 cubic feet.

But if requested rate hikes take effect in April, bigger bills are on the way in Michigan before the spring melt and warmer temperatures arrive. Consumers Energy Co. requested an increased rate of up to $5.69 per 1,000 cubic feet, said Michael Kidd, director of the Michigan Public Service Commission's gas division.

"We're to the point now we can't heat this," said B&L Greenhouse owner Bob Westrate, whose natural gas bill has risen 225 percent since last April. "This is going to put people out of business."

http://chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/article/0,2669,SAV-0102120127,FF.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), February 12, 2001


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