BY AMANDA HARRISON
A new way to combine savings with environmental responsibility is catching on in Michigan.
Participants in the Net Metering Program surpassed 1,000 people in 2011. Nearly double what it was in 2010.
Every time they produce more than they us. the program gives consumers credits to use toward their energy bill.
Judy Palnau is with the Michigan Public Service Commission. She said participants do this mostly, through installing solar panels and wind turbines.
"There are people who believe that the price of solar panels will continue to drop so we'll see where that goes but if that happens we would expect more and more people to install solar panels and become Net Metering customers."
The number of customers is not the only thing that grew last year. The amount of energy produced also increased by 118 percent. And Palnau said that's something that benefits the entire state.