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July 13, 2024

Newsletter: Detroit Free Press Op-ed and More

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    • Welcome to the weekly newsletter of the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (Michigan EIBC), the business voice for advanced energy in Michigan. Here’s what’s new this week:

     

    Read Detroit Free Press Op-Ed From Michigan EIBC and CUB On MISO Tranche 1 Transmission Projects

    It has been about two years since the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) approved Tranche 1 of its Long-Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) process, a portfolio of 18 transmission projects in the Midwest, expected to lead to $70 billion in benefits for customers primarily by enabling the growth of more affordable new clean energy sources.

    This year, the Michigan portion of Tranche 1 is expected to go up for approval before the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC), and Michigan EIBC is working to explain the benefits this new transmission infrastructure can bring to the state and region. Toward that end, a new op-ed in the Detroit Free Press that is a collaboration between Michigan EIBC Sustainable Business Associate Natalie Lyijynen and Citizens Utility Board (CUB) of Michigan Executive Director Amy Bandyk gives an overview of the transmission projects to educate those who are unfamiliar.

    “The transmission network is like a congested road system,” the op-ed said. “While essential to our daily lives, the process of building transmission lines happens infrequently in this country. Michigan, for example, hasn’t had an interstate transmission line built in about 50 years. Imagine the state of disarray our highways would be in if the interstate highway system hadn’t been expanded and improved for half a century.”

    The potential cost savings for consumers from these lines are vast, which is why Michigan EIBC collaborated with CUB, the nonprofit residential ratepayer advocacy group, on this op-ed. “The stakes are big enough that a diverse coalition has come together in favor of the projects,” Bandyk and Lyijynen wrote.

    The two Michigan lines that are part of Tranche 1 would be built by Michigan EIBC member ITC Holdings Corp. through its subsidiaries ITC Transmission and Michigan Electric Transmission Company and are expected to be built by 2030.

    The op-ed also mentions MISO’s proposed Tranche 2 set of projects. Earlier this year Michigan EIBC called on MISO to approve Tranche 2 “without delay.” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker have also joined together to express support for Tranche 2.

     

    Gov. Whitmer Signs Homeowner Energy Freedom Bill

    This week Gov. Whitmer signed into law a bill that prevents homeowners’ associations from blocking solar panels, EV charging equipment, heat pumps, reflective roofing, or other kinds of energy-saving improvements.

    The bill, HB 5028, was passed by the Michigan Senate last month and by the House in November. 

    In a statement, the governor said that “ensuring homeowners have the freedom to put solar panels on their own houses” is one of several new laws she is signing “to make a real difference in people’s lives.”

    “Simply put, Michigan homeowners shouldn’t face artificial barriers to lowering their energy consumption, saving more of their hard-earned money and helping to keep Michigan’s environment healthy,” bill sponsor Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) said in the statement.

    A PV Magazine story about the passage of the bill quoted Michigan EIBC Senior Director of Policy Grace Michienzi, who said that the bill will allow Michigan to “join our neighbors in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Ohio in establishing similar pro-consumer measures.”

     



    Registration Open for 12th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Gala

    Michigan EIBC is excited to welcome our members, Michigan legislators and state officials, and the general public to our 12th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Gala on September 25th at The Gem Theatre in Detroit. Register now for one of our most popular events!

    If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please reach out to Brianna. You can view the available sponsorship levels and benefits here. Please note that the Watt level is sold out. And thank you to our current sponsors, whose generosity helps to make our annual gala a huge success!

    TERAWATT SPONSOR

    GIGAWATT SPONSOR

    MEGAWATT SPONSORS

    KILOWATT SPONSORS

    WATT SPONSORS

     

    Renewing Members

    Madison Energy Investments
    Madison Energy Investments develops, constructs, owns and operates distributed generation assets within the commercial and industrial (C&I) and small utility-scale sectors. 

    ONE
    Our Next Energy, Inc. (ONE) is an energy storage company with a mission to double the distance EVs can travel. Founded in 2020, ONE uses safe, sustainable, low-cost battery chemistries for consumer and commercial electric vehicles, as well as develops technology for stationary storage – particularly around utility-scale energy storage systems. ONE is dedicated to the long-term vision of achieving vertical integration for American energy storage manufacturing by working to develop a robust and resilient domestic and ally supply chain for critical minerals. Headquartered in Novi, Michigan ONE domestically develops and validates both Aries and Gemini battery systems. ONE is committed to applying a holistic approach to growing the energy storage industry in the US. To do so, ONE is focused on the circularity of lithium-ion battery manufacturing; this includes sustainability and safety from sourcing of raw materials all the way to the secondary use and recycling, ensuring that ONE is safeguarding the growth of democratized energy. ONE is working to vertically integrate its materials supply chain by developing technologies that use more abundant and locally available raw materials. ONE aims to pioneer sustainable battery manufacturing practices in order to support American energy independence and position the United States as a leader in disruptive energy storage technology. As of April 2022, ONE has raised $95 million and has over 100 employees. In addition to ONE’s Michigan headquarters, ONE has two offices in California, a product development facility in LA and a R&D center in Silicon Valley.  

    Renewable Properties
    Founded in 2017, Renewable Properties specializes in developing and investing in small-scale utility and commercial solar energy projects throughout the U.S. Led by experienced renewable energy professionals with development and investment experience, Renewable Properties works closely with communities, developers, landowners, utilities and financial institutions looking to invest in large solar energy systems. For more information about Renewable Properties, visit www.renewprop.com.

    Tetra Tech
    Tetra Tech is a leading provider of environmental consulting, engineering, and technical services worldwide. We are a diverse company, including individuals with expertise in science, research, engineering, construction, and information technology. Our strength is in collectively providing integrated services, delivering the best solutions to meet our clients’ needs.  


    ​

    Michigan Energy News

    • Wolverine Power Cooperative has been talking to the Midcontinent Independent System Operator about the potential for a high-voltage transmission line under Lake Michigan to allow low-cost renewable energy to flow into the region.
    • Consumers Energy files a Transportation Electrification Plan calling for 1,500 new fast charging stations by 2030.
    • The MPSC approves a rate increase for Indiana Michigan Power while also calling on the utility to file a transportation electrification plan and also provide more evidence on what it is doing to improve reliability.
    • The boom in electricity consumption from AI and data centers in Michigan “could quite literally ruin the plans that have been devised to address the looming climate crisis,” writes Martin Kushler, who recently retired as a Senior Fellow with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

    National Energy News

    • A West Virginia project could be the first instance of a solar-plus-storage microgrid powering an industrial facility.
    • Ten states in the Northeast stretching from Maine to Maryland sign a memorandum of understanding to work on interregional transmission infrastructure.
    • Global solar and wind capacity will triple by 2030 while global energy storage will grow by over 600% over the period, according to a Wood Mackenzie global market outlook update.
    • The U.S. Energy Information Administration is set to soon release the results of a survey on electricity usage from the cryptocurrency industry.

    Job Board

    Attention Michigan EIBC members: if you have a job announcement you would like in the newsletter, please send a paragraph describing the position and a link to apply to Matt Bandyk at matt@mieibc.org. Please include in the email a specific end date for the job posting.

    Elevate

    Diversity, Racial Equity, and Inclusion Lead. Location: Chicago.
    The Diversity, Racial Equity, and Inclusion (DREI) Lead is responsible for the development and implementation (integration) of initiatives that promote diversity, racial equity, and inclusion (DREI) aligning with Elevate’s core vision, mission, values, and goals. The DREI Lead will work closely with the DREI support team and others, as needed, to ensure integration of DREI principles throughout Elevate programs, processes and practices, execute on strategic priorities, and drive successful outcomes. This Lead will serve as the subject matter expert on DREI and provide vision, expertise, and counsel on matters of diversity initiatives, strategic planning, education and research, and program implementation.

     

    Michigan and National Energy Events

    The 68th Annual Michigan Energy Providers Conference will be held at the Grand Traverse Resort July 25-26. Register here.

    On Aug. 3, the Michigan Electric Vehicle Alliance is holding the Clean Cruise, an organized EV cruise on Woodward Avenue in Ferndale. Find out more information here.

    The 12th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Gala will be held in Detroit on Sept. 25. Tickets are available now.

     

    Opportunities

    The Michigan Public Service Commission has created a website tracking its progress implementing Public Acts 229, 231, 233, 234, and 235, passed on Nov. 8, 2023 and signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Nov. 28.

    Michigan EGLE is launching the Renewables Ready Communities Award (RRCA), which makes Michigan municipalities that have, on or after October 1, 2023, begun physically hosting and performing local permitting for any portion of an eligible renewable energy project eligible for awards of $5,000 per MW. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until Sept. 30. More information on this opportunity can be found on the RRCA Webpage.

    Michigan EGLE is offering at least $320,000 in funding MI Solar Communities-MI Solar Access Program. Applications will be accepted through March 31, 2025, or when funding is expended, whichever comes first. Find the request for proposals for MI Solar Access here.

    Michigan EGLE has released an RFP for grants from its Clean Energy Workforce Development Program. The application deadline is July 30, 2025.