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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:
Michigan EIBC in PV Magazine: Energy Storage Bills Serve as National Model
This year has seen notable advanced energy policy victories on the budget and bills on commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing, payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILT) for solar projects and more, and now there is also the potential for a transformation in energy storage policy in Michigan.
Proposed bills in the state House amount to “some of the boldest state-level policies for energy storage in the entire country,” Michigan EIBC President Laura Sherman writes in a new article in PV Magazine. “Passing these bills would make the state among the most ambitious in the Midwest when it comes to growing storage capacity and encouraging business models that unlock the full potential of this technology, like the ‘virtual power plant’ model,’ she writes.
HB 4256 would establish a state-wide target of 2,500 MW of grid-scale energy storage by 2030 and require utilities to achieve that goal by competitively procuring storage systems.
In addition, recently-introduced House Bills 4839 and 4840 would spur growth in behind-the-meter storage. HB 4389, introduced by Rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette), would ensure that customers who use BTM storage, including solar-plus-storage systems, are compensated for any benefits they provide to their neighbors, the grid and the utilities. HB 4840, introduced by Rep. Donavan McKinney (D-Detroit), would provide rebates to help customers purchase these systems, including bigger rebates for low-income customers.
“U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently described Michigan as a ‘hotbed’ for clean energy development. The state’s role in the electric vehicle space is known, but these bills would grow Michigan’s standing as a hotbed for battery storage and distributed energy,” Sherman writes.
DTE Integrated Resource Plan Settlement Includes More Renewables, Storage and Energy Efficiency
DTE’s long-term integrated resource plan (IRP) will include competitive procurements of renewable energy and energy storage to replace earlier retirement of coal-fired power plant units and increases in the utility’s energy waste reduction targets and cap on distributed generation, under the terms of a settlement agreement reached this week between DTE and a number of groups, including Michigan EIBC, the Institute for Energy Innovation, Clean Grid Alliance and Michigan EIBC Trade Organization Member Advanced Energy United.
Under the settlement, which paves the way for the regulatory approval of the IRP, DTE will retire units 1 and 2 at the Monroe coal-fired plant in 2032 instead of 2035 as DTE had proposed in its initial IRP application. Monroe units 3 and 4 will be retired in 2028.
The settlement also provides that DTE will procure 3,400 MW of renewable energy from 2026 to 2030 and 780 MW of storage from 2025 to 2028. These procurements will take place under guidelines that require improved competitive procurement practices and ensure carve-outs for third-party owned resources. The settlement also adds 150 MW of new demand response resources obtained through a competitive procurement process that will allow third-party aggregators of demand response resources to participate.
Overall, DTE’s IRP calls for 6,500 MW of solar, 8,900 MW of wind and 1,810 MW of battery storage by 2042.
Under the settlement, DTE also agreed to increase its energy waste reduction target from 1.5% of sales to 2%, and to increase its cap on distributed generation from 1% to 6% of its average in-state peak load for the preceding five calendar years. “If the Michigan Legislature raises the cap beyond the 6% threshold or eliminates the cap altogether, this provision will no longer be operative,” the settlement agreement said.
Renewing Members
Advanced Energy Management Alliance
Advanced Energy Management Alliance advocates for policies that empower and compensate customers appropriately–to contribute energy or energy-related services or to manage their energy usage–in a manner which contributes to a more efficient, cost-effective, resilient, reliable, and environmentally sustainable grid. Our members are providers and customers of Distributed Energy Resources, including Demand Response and Advanced Energy Management, united to overcome barriers to nationwide use of demand-side resources. Our Committees are active throughout North America, federally, regionally, and in states.
Bollinger Motors Inc
Bollinger Motors is driving distinction through truly evolved EV solutions and reinventing the all-electric truck from the ground up. Bollinger’s class 3 electric trucks, including the B1 Sport Utility Truck, the B2 Pickup Truck, the B2 Chassis Cab, and the Chass-E, will offer dual-motor drivetrain creating best-in-class horsepower and torque, all-wheel drive, 50/50 weight distribution, unbeatable traction, and best-in-class ground clearance for both consumer and commercial applications. Built in Detroit, made to change the world.
Michigan CAT Power Systems is Michigan’s premier provider of turnkey Combined Heat & Power (CHP or Cogen) systems. We have the expertise to optimize a CHP system for your facility and the boots on the ground to make sure you get the most out of your investment. Plus, as your Caterpillar dealer, we can offer best in class CAT power generation equipment that is built in the USA.Michigan CAT is also recognized as a leader in providing landfill solutions. Decades of leadership in converting landfill gas to viable energy mean millions of “green” kilowatts provided. Our CHP; Landfill customers include operations across the nation-with hundreds of generators operating in diverse applications.
Michigan Saves
Michigan Saves, the nation’s first nonprofit green bank, promotes accessible, equitable, and just investments in energy efficiency and clean energy to support healthy and thriving communities.
SustainabiliD
SustainabiliD is a woman-owned, service-disabled veteran operated, Detroit-based diverse small business working with gamechangers to equitably solve the climate crisis.
Utilidata
Utilidata is a technology company bringing open source distributed artificial intelligence (AI) to the edge of the electric grid to accelerate decarbonization and better serve people.
Michigan Energy News
- A Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) study presented to the legislature examines the impact on the grid from increased electricity demand from EVs and electrification.
- Michigan’s low-income weatherization program is being expanded to include more multi-family housing.
- Vote Solar’s Will Kenworthy and Earthjustice’s Shannon Fisk praise elements of the DTE IRP settlement in a Michigan Radio story.
- Consumers Energy proposes a pilot program for burying power lines in Genesee, Iosco and four other counties.
- Consumers Energy says its new multi-family EV charging program will offer $7,500 rebates for property owners to build overnight EV chargers for their tenants.
National Energy News
- A new report from Evergreen Collaborative, Atlas Public Policy, GreenLatinos and EVHybridNoire finds that the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program (NEVI) has “strict siting requirements” that “limit how benefits can be delivered to [disadvantaged] communities.”
- Repurposing old EV batteries as grid storage can make the battery supply chain more sustainable, according to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council.
- Minnesota regulators approve Michigan EIBC member Form Energy’s plan to build a 10-MW/1,000-MWh iron-air battery system for Xcel Energy’s Minnesota utility.
- The Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management approves plans for Danish energy company Ørsted to build a 1.1-GW offshore wind energy project near New Jersey.
- Constraints in the transmission system in Texas are leading to high curtailment of renewable energy even during heat waves.
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.
Cultivate Power
Director, Community Partnerships & Investment. Location: Chicago (Remote Possible).
Cultivate Power is seeking a Director of Community Partnerships & Investment. This person will help originate, develop and foster community partnership and investment opportunities in the host communities and regions where Cultivate Power develops distributed energy projects. Additionally, the Director will work to build systems and standardized processes for engaging communities on every project. This is a unique role with the opportunity for the Director to drive industry-leading impact to create greater inclusion, equity and benefit to communities through innovation and creation of new programs and partnerships. The Director will report directly to one of the Managing Directors and co-founders of Cultivate Power.
FLO
Public Affairs Specialist. Location: Remote.
The Public Affairs Specialist will monitor legislation, regulations, and incentive programs across key Midwest U.S. states, assess their impact on FLO’s go-to-market strategy, and report this information accordingly to the relevant teams. The Public Affairs Specialist will collaborate with multiple teams, including but not limited to the Sales Team, Marketing Team, Product Team, and Communications Team to respond to legislative and regulatory issues as well as support FLO’s overall go-to-market strategy. The Public Affairs Specialist will serve as part of FLO’s Public Affairs Team and will report to the Public Affairs Director but will ultimately work in a highly collaborative environment with other teams.
Michigan and National Energy Events
On July 18-20, PlugVolt will be hosting Battery Seminar 2023 in Plymouth, Mich., featuring an entire day of in-depth technical tutorials on cutting-edge battery research presented by industry subject matter experts and world renowned professors from Top 50 U.S. Universities. The next two days will include complementary industry updates provided by speakers from Automotive and Grid Storage OEMs, major battery manufacturers and global Tier 1 system developers and suppliers. 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.
Join Michigan EIBC and Clean Fuels Michigan for a public electric vehicle convening on July 26 at FLO EV Charging’s new Michigan manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan. All are welcome to attend to discuss funding opportunities for EV charging infrastructure. In addition to panel discussions, the event will feature time for networking (including space for those interested in finding partners for grant applications) as well as a tour of the FLO facility. Register here.
Save the dates Aug. 6-9 for the Mid-America Regulatory Conference (MARC) Annual Meeting at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids.
Tickets are available for the 11th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Gala on Sept. 27 at The Eastern in Detroit.
Opportunities
Duquesne Light Company (DLC) is issuing a Request for Proposals for existing and in development solar generation facilities available to enter into a long term-contract for sale of its output or portion of its output with DLC. Pre-qualification applications are due July 25. More information about the RFP is available here,
The Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity (LEO) has two job openings: Director of Mobility Policy, who will be an advisor to LEO and serve as the lead policy staffer for the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, and Policy Director, who will cover a broad portfolio of issues across the entire department including workforce development, economic mobility and workplace rights and safety.
Organizations currently have the opportunity to work with a grad student from the University of Michigan School for Environment & Sustainability (SEAS) for their Master’s Projects. In these projects, “students work on research teams with client organizations and faculty advisors to address complex environmental issues and design innovative, impactful products,” according to SEAS. Learn more here. Proposals for projects are due by September.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to expand the weatherization assistance program utilizing bipartisan infrastructure law funding for multi-family dwellings. The five-month award begins on May 1 and ends Sept. 30, 2023, with the total available amount being $1 million dollars. Successful applicants may be awarded funding annually through at least Sept. 30, 2028, based upon funding availability and acceptable performance. For more information or to apply, visit the EGrAMS website.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) is offering more than $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to teams across America with winning ideas to accelerate widespread, equitable energy efficiency and building electrification upgrades. Follow Buildings UP on HeroX.com for all prize-related updates. Phase 1 submissions are due by July 18.
The City of Detroit has issued a Request for Information seeking feedback on the number and type of projects that would best achieve the goal of generating enough renewable energy to power municipal operations and buildings with locally generated and City-owned solar power. Find more information here. Responses are due Oct. 2.