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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:

Gov. Whitmer’s Budget Presentation Includes EV, Renewable Energy, Weatherization Priorities

This week Gov. Whitmer proposed a 2025 fiscal year budget to Lansing lawmakers, including proposals for more funding for EV chargers, transitioning fleets to clean vehicles, implementing the new clean energy laws and expanding efforts to weatherize Michigan homes.

Gov/ Whitmer’s budget request for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) would increase the department’s budget by 5% and “support water and green infrastructure, electric vehicle chargers and transitioning the state’s fleet to emissions-free vehicles,” Gongwer reported. Other provisions from the governor’s budget include $25 million to install charging stations at multi-family complexes and commercial parking lots. It would also include $20 million for the MI Clean Fleets Initiative to provide grants to municipalities and transit authorities to transform their fleets to emission-free vehicles, as well as $2 million toward the plan to transition the state government fleets to emission-free vehicles.

Her budget also would increase funding for the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs by 1.2%, and a portion of this funding would allow the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to hire new employees who will work on implementing the new clean energy laws including the expanded renewable energy plan cases and reviewing renewable energy projects that are seeking siting approval under the new law.

For the Department of Health and Human Services, the budget includes $6.35 million for weatherization of low-income Michiganders’ homes, with $5 million of that from the general fund and the rest from federal matching funds.

Industry Leaders and Policymakers Gather for Clean Energy Law Celebration in Lansing

On Feb. 7 in Lansing, Michigan EIBC held a celebration of the clean energy legislation passed last year with members of the clean energy industry and policymakers. The event was co-sponsored by American Clean Power Association, Advanced Energy United, Clean Grid Alliance and the Solar Energy Industries Association.

In addition to networking, we heard brief remarks from Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, Sen. Sam Singh and Reps. Abraham Aiyash and Ranjeev Puri.

Here are some photos from the event.

Registration Open for 12th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference in East Lansing on April 24

Registration is now open for Michigan EIBC’s most popular event of the year! Our 12th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference will be held April 24 at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing. Get your tickets now!

For information on sponsorship opportunities and benefits, please click here or contact Brianna Gerard at brianna@mieibc.org.

Stay tuned for announcements about speakers and panels soon!

Thank you to our sponsors:

Tetrawatt

Megawatt

Kilowatt

The Watt

Renewing Members

American Clean Power (ACP)
We are the leading federation of renewable energy companies expediting the advancement of clean energy as the dominant power source in America. The American Clean Power Association enables the transformation of the U.S. power grid to a low-cost, reliable and renewable power system. By uniting the power of wind, solar, transmission and storage companies and their allied industries, both public and private, we are championing policies that enable the continued and aggressive growth in renewable energy in the United States.

BioWorks Energy
BioWorks Energy is a full-service wastewater engineering and operations group specializing in the use anaerobic digestion for the purposes of power production. BioWorks operates its own waste to energy system utilizing anaerobic digestion which provides first-hand knowledge of optimized operations. BioWorks Energy offers first in class services to deliver the highest return from operation of waste to energy facilities using anaerobic digestion. Whether it might be the initial planning stages or full scale operations, you can count on BioWorks Energy to be your partner every step of the way!

Chart House Energy
Chart House Energy is a full service commercial / industrial renewable energy development firm with specialty in not-for-profit and governmental agency projects.

Environmental Consulting Technology
Founded in 1988, and comprised of nearly 200 scientists, engineers, and support staff, ECT has been ranked by Engineering News-Record among the top 200 environmental engineering firms in the country for each of the past 23 years. ECT provides multidisciplinary environmental consulting and engineering design solutions to market-leading clients throughout the United States and across four continents. ECT’s natural resource professionals have a long history of project and program management on large-scale renewable energy projects. ECT has worked in more than 20 states assisting clients with the due diligence, siting and development of renewable projects. Our team understands these challenges and is equipped to address and guide our clients through the process.

Inman Solar, Inc.
Inman Solar is a Developer, EPC and Owner/Operator of commercial and small utility scale solar PV projects.

NextEra Energy Resources
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (together with its affiliated entities, “NextEra Energy Resources”), is a clean energy leader and is one of the largest wholesale generators of electric power in the U.S., with approximately 21,000 megawatts of net generating capacity, primarily in 36 states and Canada as of year-end 2018. NextEra Energy Resources, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. The business operates clean, emissions-free nuclear power generation facilities in New Hampshire, Iowa and Wisconsin as part of the NextEra Energy nuclear fleet, which is one of the largest in the United States. NextEra Energy Resources, LLC is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit.

PACE Loan Group
Founded in 2017, PLG is led by career financial and commercial real estate professionals and has established itself as a leading direct PACE lender nationwide.

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
Celebrating its 46th anniversary in 2020, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry, which now employs more than 242,000 Americans. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is building a strong solar industry to power America. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to build jobs and diversity, champion the use of cost-competitive solar in America, remove market barriers and educate the public on the benefits of solar energy.

Michigan Energy News

Planet Detroit talks to Michigan EIBC Director of Policy Justin Carpenter about why the new siting law is essential.
Tranche 2 of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s transmission line buildout will help states export power when they have an excess and import power when they could otherwise face a deficit and make the grid more reliable overall, Michigan EIBC President Laura Sherman says in an interview with Michigan public radio.
The recently-awarded $60 million U.S. Department of Energy grant for the Southfield-based U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium “solidifies Michigan’s position as the heart of innovation in the automotive industry,” Michigan Infrastructure Office Director Zachary Kolodin tells Michigan public radio.
Later this month Consumers Energy expects to issue a request for proposals to find buyers for 13 hydroelectric dams.
Michigan Radio’s Stateside podcast examines why DTE rates keep going up.
Representatives of school districts in Homer and Three Rivers write in the Detroit News about the cost-saving and educational benefits of electric school buses.

National Energy News

A Colorado regulator lays out a plan for a 50-MW virtual power plant for Xcel Energy.
Puerto Rico can transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050 but needs a strategic plan to deal with potential bill impacts, according to a U.S. Department of Energy report.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s move to strengthen limits on particulate matter emissions faces criticisms from a coalition of power-generating companies.
Some California lawmakers are trying to stop state regulators from instituting income-based fixed charges on electric bills.
Environmental groups are sparring with industry groups over U.S. Treasury guidance on tax incentives for clean hydrogen production.

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 United

Policy Director – Decision Maker Education & Engagement – Central. Location: Remote.

Advanced Energy United is currently seeking an experienced, strategic and innovative Director to focus on decision maker education and engagement in central states. The Director will work with other United team members to develop and implement educational strategies designed to achieve policy successes at the state level that will expand markets for the advanced energy industry and accelerate the U.S. transition to 100% clean energy.

Policy Director – Decision Maker Education & Engagement – West. Location: Remote.

Advanced Energy United is currently seeking an experienced, strategic and innovative Director to focus on decision maker education and engagement in western states. The Director will work with other United team members to develop and implement educational strategies designed to achieve policy successes at the state level that will expand markets for the advanced energy industry and accelerate the U.S. transition to 100% clean energy.

Elevate

Director, Community Programs (MI).

The Director, Community Programs leads and manages Elevate’s Community Programs team in Michigan. The Director is responsible for implementing programs in partnership with community organizations, municipalities, and state agencies related to affordable housing and resilient communities, with an emphasis on building decarbonization – energy and water efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy. The Director, Community Programs collaborates with departments across the organization as well as with key partner organizations. The Director leads strategic planning, resourcing and process improvement on this fast-growing team.

Michigan and National Energy Events

The Consumers Energy Clean Energy Workforce Training Program is running an “Upskilled” Program on Feb. 12 at Jackson Community College. The company is seeking contractors in Jackson and the surrounding areas who have a need for their employees or themselves to be upskilled.

Michigan EIBC and Michigan EGLE’s Home Energy Rebate Convening is scheduled for Feb. 21 in Ann Arbor. Register here.

Michigan EIBC’s 12th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference will be held April 24 at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing. Get your tickets now!

Opportunities

Invest In Our Future is hiring for several positions, including a Program Manager with regional connections in the Midwest.

Climate Power is hiring a Michigan States Desk temporary position. This is a remote, temporary position to support work through the election cycle “to drive the narrative on how the Inflation Reduction Act and the clean energy boom are benefiting residents.” Find out more here.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is hiring an Engineer in its Energy & Recycling Section. Find out more here.

The City of Detroit is soliciting proposals from qualified solar providers to design, engineer, build, operate, maintain, and decommission installations of ground-mount solar PV projects. Proposals are due Feb. 15.

The MPSC has released a request for proposals for a $21.3 million renewable energy and electrification infrastructure enhancement and development grant program. Applications are due Feb. 21.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office has issued a funding opportunity announcement for concentrating solar power and photovoltaic. The final deadline is March 6. Learn more here.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office has announced a $38 million funding opportunity focused on cross-sector technologies for industrial decarbonization. Applications are due March 20. Learn more here.

Michigan EGLE has several open grant applications related to energy efficiency for businesses, local governments, tribal governments and farmers, as well as support for public, private, or nonprofit entities for deploying publicly available fast-charging electric vehicle stations along the Lake Michigan Circuit. These applications have various deadlines from January to March of 2024. Find more information here.

On April 9, DTE is tentatively planning an All Source Renewable Energy RFP. Those who would like to attend a stakeholder session on Feb. 8 should email All_Source_Renewables_RFP_Account@dteenergy.com to get added to the invitation.

The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a funding opportunity announcement for grants to “fund research, development, and prototype or pilot scale technology validation and demonstration activities that will accelerate the development and adoption of sustainable technologies that increase efficiency and eliminate industrial GHG emissions for the most energy- and emissions- intensive industrial subsectors.” The deadline is June 11. Learn more here,

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