From Gannett’s Livingston Daily: Brighton-based Energy Company Goes Public

As one of the founders of CGE Energy, Bryan Zaplinty has spent 25 years working to make our world more energy-efficient.

The Brighton-based clean energy company has become a leader in areas such as LED lighting and solar power, and is becoming more involved with wind turbines.

And its future is brighter than ever now that it has gone public.

CGE Energy became a publicly traded company Jan. 31 after its merger with McKenzie Bay International.

“I have been in the energy management industry since 1989,” Zaplinty said. “I became interested in renewable energy after I realized the importance of stewardship. We are responsible for making the world a better place.”

Investors can buy stock in CGE Energy on the OTC Markets Pink Sheets (http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/MKBY/quote).

“As a publicly traded company, it means a larger stage to promote our vision of ‘power to make a difference.’ We will have the potential to make global stewards out of everyday people,” said Zaplinty.

Zaplinty is CEO and president of what will officially become CGE Energy Inc. when filings with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority are completed this month.

The price of the stock was 5 cents per share Thursday.

“It doesn’t take a big investment, and a little movement in the stock can mean a significant return,” said Paul Schneider, vice president of marketing at CGE Energy.

Through its LED lighting and maintenance programs and its power purchase agreements, CGE Energy works with businesses, municipalities, schools, hospitals and others to reduce the cost and environmental impact of energy use.

Its clients include the Oakland Mall, Comerica Bank, Michigan State Police posts and Champion Chevrolet of Howell.

“They did our parking lot lights at Champion in December 2013,” said Kathy Kaminsky, project coordinator at Champion Auto Group. “The LED fixtures definitely reduce energy costs. We average probably 20 percent to 25 percent savings.”

Last year, CGE Energy saw 100 percent growth in its light maintenance program known as RAMP (review, analyze, modify, protect). The RAMP program now covers over 19 million square feet of commercial facilities in the Midwest, such as the Oakland Mall and Madonna University. RAMP contracts provide unlimited service calls, labor and replacement lamps.

“That represents hundreds of thousands of lights that we ensure always remain lit and shining bright as well as helping our customers’ facilities stay safe and secure year-round,” Zaplinty said.

Zaplinty said the company’s immediate goal is to establish a more national and international presence. He said it recently opened an office in Grand Rapids and has everything in place to start a location in Chicago.

“The company was originally just me and a few partners. We personally did all the work from start to finish,” Zaplinty said. “These days, I have teams of professional engineers, auditors and electricians who integrate our energy solutions. And they do remarkable work.”

For more information about CGE Energy, go to http://www.cgeenergy.com.

Contact Livingston Daily business editor Mike Lammi at 517-552-2854 or at mlammi@livingstondaily.com.

Original article: http://www.livingstondaily.com/story/news/local/community/brighton/2015/02/12/brighton-based-energy-company-goes-public/23320165/