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:

Laura Sherman in the Detroit News and Energy News Network on the Economic Benefits of the MI Healthy Climate Plan

Gov. Whitmer’s MI Healthy Climate Plan, released in April, “will be a boon for the state’s economy, all while cutting greenhouse gas emissions and reducing local air pollution,” Michigan EIBC President Laura Sherman writes in a letter to the editor published in the Detroit News today.

In addition, in a new article in Energy News Network, Sherman writes about how the Plan “will pay dividends to Michiganders from all walks of life by increasing job growth, boosting income and raising the state’s overall economic output,”

The letter to the editor in the Detroit News responds to claims that the Plan will increase costs for consumers. “Renewable energy is not driving up your electric bill,” Sherman writes. “Quite the opposite: improvements in technology over the last decade or so have driven down the costs of wind and solar energy to the point where, without counting the effects of subsidies, building utility-scale wind or solar is cheaper than coal, nuclear and natural gas plants.”

In the Energy News Network article, Sherman explains the history of policies that support clean and advanced energy in Michigan. The state’s renewable portfolio standard and incentives for EV manufacturing have made the state one of the strongest for jobs in related sectors of the economy. “We need to implement the policies proposed by the [MI Healthy Climate Plan] so Michigan can fully realize the potential benefits of advanced energy,” Sherman writes. According to an October 2021 report by Greenlink Analytics, those benefits include the creation of nearly 100,000 jobs, a $2 billion increase in residential household income and an additional $3.9 billion to the state’s GDP.

Read the rest of the letter in the Detroit News and the whole article at Energy News Network.

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EV Showcase Brings Advanced Mobility to the State Capitol

The streets of Lansing around the State Capitol were teeming with EVs on May 17 for the EV Technology Showcase and Ride & Drive, an event to educate legislators and legislative staff about EVs, EV batteries and charging stations, hosted by Michigan EIBC, Clean Fuels Michigan, the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum, MICHauto and EVHybridNoire.

Many of the latest models of EV cars and trucks were outside the Capitol and available for test drives. An electric-powered school bus was also open for rides.

Inside the Capitol, Michigan EIBC and exhibitors like the Electrification Coalition had discussions with legislators and staff about EV policy. WILX covered the event and talked to EVHybridNoire’s Terry Travis. “One of the other things I think is critically important is the fact gas prices have skyrocketed on the other side of the planet,” Travis said in the station’s report. “Having an electric vehicle demonstrates an opportunity to have energy independence, the energy that drives these vehicles is made right here in Michigan, not on the other side of the world. That’s an opportunity as well.”

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Michigan EIBC Seeking Business Development Intern

Do you know anyone who wants to learn how an organization like the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council works and do so as a paid intern? Please recommend someone (or apply!) for our opening for a Business Development, Membership and Events intern. 

The selected candidate will be expected to dedicate approximately 10-15 hours per week to this role starting on or around June 1, 2022. The internship will be 6 months in length, with the potential opportunity to extend upon mutual agreement. Attendance is expected at scheduled virtual meetings during normal business hours and in-person events, which will occur during and outside of normal business hours, but other work can occur when mutually convenient. The selected intern will be paid a stipend of $500 per month.

Anticipated Tasks: Membership

● Assist in managing, maintaining, and organizing membership information and data
across multiple software platforms
● Maintenance and clean-up of membership data in Salesforce
● Communicate professionally with Michigan EIBC members
● Assist with member retention and new member outreach

Anticipated Tasks: Events

● Assist in event logistics planning and tracking
● Assist with preparation, execution, and follow-up for events
● Assist Director in compiling and tracking event databases
● Inventory tracking of event supplies

To apply, please complete this form including submission of a resume and cover letter. Applications will be received through 5:00pm on Friday, May 20, 2022. Please reach out to Brianna Gerard (brianna@mieibc.org) with any questions.

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New Members

 

East Point Energy
East Point Energy develops standalone, grid-scale energy storage projects that enable a more renewable, resilient, and affordable electric grid. East Point is currently developing gigawatts of energy storage projects throughout the country and has transacted on several hundred megawatts with some of the largest, most sophisticated energy investors in the country. The firm’s executive team founded East Point in 2018, bringing decades of combined energy development experience and over 1.8 gigawatts of solar, wind, and energy storage projects currently in operation across the United States. East Point is technology and contractor agnostic, allowing us to find the best solution for each project. Our nimble team is comprised of hard-working, strategic problem solvers who are passionate about sustainability. Success for East Point is measured by delivering affordable energy storage solutions that benefit the grid, communities, and our environment.

New Earth Solar, LLC 
The New Earth Solar Company is a Licensed and Insured solar company based out of Michigan. We strive to ensure our customer service exceeds all of our clients expectations and are focused on quality energy systems. To be a top place to work and grow for our team. To support our global community through charitable efforts and donations.  

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Michigan Energy News

• Gov. Whitmer nominates seven Michigan highways to receive federal funds for EV charging stations as “alternative fuel corridors.”
• State parks across Michigan will soon be receiving additional EV charging stations, part of Gov. Whitmer’s Lake Michigan EV circuit.
• In response to warnings by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator of possible rolling blackouts, DTE President Trevor Lauer says “we have more than enough energy for our customers.”
• Consumers Energy Vice President of Electric Grid Integration Tim Sparks also says that his company expects to have enough energy to avoid controlled outages this summer.
• Consumers Energy calls for landowners and local leaders in rural and agricultural areas to work together with the company to identify appropriate sites for more utility-scale solar development.

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National Energy News

• FERC Chair Richard Glick says he is “bullish” on energy storage and its ability to be compensated for its value given new rules the commission is implementing.
• A proposed rulemaking from FERC would reduce competition in transmission planning, leading to higher costs for customers, former FERC Chair Jon Wellinghoff and Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition Chair Paul N. Cicio write.
• Corporate procurement of clean energy is on track to set another record for 2022, according to a State of the Market report released by the Clean Energy Buyers Association.
• The U.S. Department of Energy extends the deadline for applications for its Civilian Nuclear Credit program.
• Electric trucks are gaining a bigger presence in the freight industry.

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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.

Advanced Energy Economy

Position: Executive Director, Texas Advanced Energy Business Alliance / Policy Director, AEE. Austin, Texas, location preferred, but other Texas locations will be considered.

AEE seeks a smart, innovative, and politically savvy Director to join AEE’s professional services team and lead our Texas engagement as the Executive Director of TAEBA. TAEBA’s Executive Director will lead and shape policy advocacy strategies in Texas and will work collaboratively with team members to develop and implement multi-year strategies and campaigns designed to achieve policy successes at the state and wholesale market level that will expand markets for the advanced energy industry and accelerate the transition to clean energy in Texas.  

Advanced Energy Economy

Position: Policy Director  – Decision Maker Education and Engagement & Wholesale Markets. East Coast location.

AEE seeks a smart, innovative, and politically savvy Director to join AEE’s professional services team. To support the U.S. transition to 100% clean energy and electrified transportation, the Director will work with AEE team members to engage with and educate key decision makers on advanced energy, and to initiate, develop, and implement multi-year strategies designed to transform federally regulated wholesale electricity markets. The wholesale markets work will focus on building stakeholder coalitions in support of market rule changes necessary to support the growth of clean energy resources and speed the retirement of aging incumbent generating technologies in competitive wholesale electricity markets. The Director will also build and execute programs to educate key decision makers on advanced energy technologies and solutions to energy challenges facing them, whether through work with and at NARUC, regional NARUCs, or through other educational fora.

AES

Position: Manager, Government Relations (MISO). Salt Lake City.

The Manager of Government Affairs will lead AESCE’s public policy efforts related to wind, solar, energy storage, green hydrogen, as well as other technologies as determined for key states in the central and western part of the U.S.. They will assist in the establishment of AESCE strategies, that align with laws, regulations, and policies where AESCE works. The Manager will also provide ongoing analysis and information to the development, strategic development, operations and commercial team for the identification of new market opportunities, response to new opportunities, and optimization of project assets.  Additionally, the Manager will identify potential policy changes or modifications that may benefit the business and collaborate with internal teams to develop a coordinated strategy.  A key function will be maintaining strong relationships with government officials, associated authorities, state agencies, committees, and other industry and partner organizations. This role will have a strong understanding of AESCE’s assets and products and be a capable communicator and team player.

AES

Position: Manager, Stakeholder Relations (MISO & ERCOT). Indianapolis or Houston.

AES is actively developing a diverse renewable energy portfolio across the Midwest and Texas, and our development efforts require strong stakeholder relationships for our business to be successful. The Manager of Stakeholder Relations, MISO & ERCOT, will partner with cross-functional teams to execute project-specific and regional stakeholder relations strategies supporting business and project success.

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Michigan and National Energy Events

Attention legislators, legislative staff, administration officials and Michigan EIBC members: Join the Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI) for an Energy Storage 101 Lunch & Learn on May 18 at the Anderson House Office Building in Lansing. Contact Brianna Gerard for more information.

On May 23, please join Michigan EIBC and Clean Fuels Michigan for an EV Convening on “Moving Toward the Mobility Future: Opportunities for EVs in Michigan.” This free event, open to both members and the public, will be held at Public Sector Consultants at 230 N. Washington Square, Lansing. Register here.

On July 12-14, PlugVolt will be hosting its next Battery Seminar in Plymouth, MI (USA) featuring an entire day of in-depth technical tutorials on solid-state batteries, next-gen anodes and cathodes, battery diagnostics, failures, battery management systems, etc. by world renowned professors from Top 50 US Universities. Attendees will also get an exclusive opportunity to tour INTERTEK Battery Testing Center of Excellence in Plymouth, MI (USA) firsthand, ask questions to resident experts, and enjoy some light appetizers and beverages while networking with industry peers. Register here.

Opportunities

The DOE is seeking input on how to implement a resilient and efficient building code. This information will be used to develop a potential FOA. Responses to the Request for Information must be received by 5:00 p.m. (ET) on May 20.

The Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing FOA has a deadline of May 27 for letters of intent and July 1 for full applications.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) has announced the Renewables Advancing Community Energy Resilience (RACER) funding opportunity, which will award $25 million in funding for projects to enable communities to utilize solar and solar-plus-storage to prevent disruptions in power caused by extreme weather and other events and to rapidly restore electricity if it goes down. Prior to submitting a full application for this opportunity, a concept paper is due on May 27 at 5:00pm ET. 

Concept papers in response to the DOE’s Electric Drive Vehicle Battery Recycling & Second-Life Applications FOA are due May 31 and full applications are due July 19.

Entities can receive funding for projects related to zero-emission vehicles under the Bus and Bus Facilities Competitive Grants program or Low- and No-Emissions (Low-No) Program must submit a zero-emission fleet transition plan. Applications are due May 31.

Consumers Energy has released draft materials for its RFP that will solicit solar and wind generation projects in accordance with the company’s expansion of its Voluntary Green Pricing Program. This RFP will be administered by Enel X, affiliated with Michigan EIBC member Enel Green Power. According to the RFP administrator, “questions pertaining to this RFP or the proposal submittal process can be sent via email to Enel X by way of VGPRFP@enel.com. In the event others within your organization did not receive this notice and are interested in being added to the RFP listserv, please send a request via email to VGPRFP@enel.com with contact details for those to be added.”  Final proposals are due May 31.

The Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations has released a Request for Information to solicit feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to Section 41001 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which appropriated $505 million to advance energy storage systems toward widespread commercial deployment by lowering the costs and increasing the duration of energy storage resources. Replies to this RFI are due by June 16. 

Michigan EIBC member Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University is accepting applications for its C3 Accelerator. Apply here by June 30. C3 is a growth stage Accelerator with up to $1.6M in funding in the form of grants, investments, and services to support the product development and scaling of Cleantech, Climatech, and Circular Economy technologies.

The Community Collaboration on Climate Change (C4) is seeking a full-time contract position to provide coordination of C4 leadership, organizational representatives, Grand Rapids residents, and the program deliverables.

State of Michigan DNR is going big in solar with projects in the ground, others in development and additional ones being planned. DNR has released a Request for Proposal for Prequalification Program for Renewable Energy PPAs: www.michigan.gov/sigmavss. Use “Guest Access” to get the RFP. A previous round of pre-qualifications netted solar companies that then were able to bid on a portfolio of DNR solar projects in Southwest Michigan. Another portfolio in the Northern Region is in the works for later this year. Only companies who pre-qualify can bid on future DNR solar projects. Please direct all correspondence to the Solicitation Manager, Laura Gyorkos at gyorkosL@michigan.gov.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s PlanetM Testing Grant gives mobility companies the opportunity to access testing facilities around the state, including Mcity at the University of Michigan. Apply here.

Aaron Kurz, a former Michigan EIBC intern and University of Michigan alum, is working to build a state-level Science Policy Fellowship in Michigan, the Michigan Initiative for Science Policy (MISP). This program will place five recent STEM PhD recipients throughout the Michigan state government to provide a source of non-partisan, evidence-based information to decision makers. MISP will join the 10 other state programs throughout the country, including Idaho, Missouri, and New Jersey. Additional information about this initiative may be found at miscipol.org. If you are interested in providing written support for MISP, please contact Aaron at aaron.kurz@miscipol.org.