Its patented fumes-to-fuel technology, co-developed with the Detroit Edison unit of DTE Energy (nyse: DTE - news - people ), could be worth millions in energy savings and licensing fees, Ford says.

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It could be part of a package that would include Palace Sports and Entertainment, which includes The Palace of Auburn Hills (home to the Pistons, and many big-name acts), DTE Energy Music Theatre and Meadow Brook Music Festival, all in the Detroit suburbs.

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"The federal government could step in after the fact and disrupt activity with the states, even with the best of intentions, " says Dan Riedinger, spokesman for industry group Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned utilities such as Constellation Energy Group and DTE Energy.

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