Tour of IBEW Local 58 Zero Net Energy Center Showcases Michigan Solar Solutions Project

On Wednesday, the Michigan EIBC member organization, the Michigan Energy Efficiency Contractors Association (MEECA), hosted a site tour of the headquarters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 58, which is Michigan’s largest zero-net-energy facility. IBEW Local 58 represents more than 4,700 journeymen electricians in SE Michigan.

The headquarters net-zero project, completed in 2017, is a showcase of advanced energy solutions. The union local has changed the name of their 33,000-sq.ft. building to the Zero Net Energy Center. Originally built in 1964, the retrofitted union hall features a 600-panel PV array which was provided by Michigan EIBC member company Michigan Solar Solutions. The 174kW solar array uses 600 Michigan-made Suniva 290w solar panels. The building also features a geothermal system, more than 500 LED lights, energy efficient windows and doors, synthetic rubber roofing system, and structurally insulated panels for walls. Since the renovation, energy use has plummeted 76% and the union expects its annual electric bill to drop by nearly $57,000. On Sept. 5 this year, Governor Snyder recognized IBEW Local 58’s work on the building with a Governor’s Energy Excellence Award. More information on the building and what was done there can be found here: more details.

Michigan Companies To Share Renewables Purchasing Experience with Legislators

Earlier this year, Michigan EIBC member company Foresight partnered with Constellation Energy to help furniture-maker Herman Miller procure to 100% renewable energy for the company’s facilities in Spring Lake, Michigan.

“This project will help us meet our sustainability goals — and doesn’t negatively impact our business,” said Gabe Wing, director of Safety and Sustainability at Herman Miller. ”We will continue to reduce our carbon footprint through energy efficiency projects and supporting green energy projects like Harvest II where the market allows.”

The agreement will supply Herman Miller with approximately 25,000 megawatt-hours of wind annually, all sourced from the Harvest II wind project located in Elkton, Michigan.

To learn more about this project and the increasing options companies have to purchase advanced energy to help power their Michigan-based operations, please join the Institute for Energy Innovation and Michigan EIBC on Wednesday, December 5 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm for a Corporate Purchasers 101 Lunch & Learn. The event will be attended by Michigan state legislators, legislative staff, and Michigan EIBC member companies.

General Motors Announces Big Changes

This week, General Motors announced major changes to its operations in Michigan and in other parts of the country. Such changes are likely to have implications for the company’s future in the electric vehicle and advanced mobility spaces.

General Motors stated earlier this week that it “will accelerate its transformation for the future, building on the comprehensive strategy it laid out in 2015 to strengthen its core business, capitalize on the future of personal mobility and drive significant cost efficiencies.”

“The actions we are taking today continue our transformation to be highly agile, resilient and profitable, while giving us the flexibility to invest in the future,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “We recognize the need to stay in front of changing market conditions and customer preferences to position our company for long-term success.”

The actions include:

• Transforming product development – GM is evolving its global product development workforce and processes. Resources allocated to electric and autonomous vehicle programs will double in the next two years.
• Optimizing product portfolio – GM has recently invested in newer, highly efficient vehicle architectures, especially in trucks, crossovers and SUVs. GM now intends to prioritize future vehicle investments in its next-generation battery-electric vehicles.
• Increasing capacity utilization – In the past four years, GM has refocused capital and resources to support the growth of its crossovers, SUVs and trucks

On a conference call with reporters earlier this week, GM CEO Mary Barra said the automaker will continue to invest in the trucks, sport utility vehicles and crossovers that dominate the U.S. market, but it has “the opportunity to take down our capital expenditures while investing more in future technologies like autonomous and electric vehicles.”

Please join us for the next EV Convening on Dec. 19

You’re invited to attend our final 2018 electric vehicle convening on December 19th from 12pm – 3pm at the Michigan Public Service Commission (7109 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing, MI).

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/december-electric-vehicle-convening-at-mpsc-tickets-51967664684

Draft Agenda:

• 12pm – 1pm: Lunch provided. Michigan Energy Office presentation of EV Charger Placement Optimization Project final report.
• 1pm – 2pm: Discussion of recent progress made on MUD issues and electric school buses including presentations by Charles Griffith and Mac Dashney.
• 2pm – 3pm: Discussion of gaps to be addressed and potential policy solutions.

Renewing Members

Heelstone Energy
Heelstone Energy is a leading independent power producer and solar developer with expertise across the solar value chain. Heelstone is heavily involved in the development, construction, financing and operation of high value solar photovoltaic assets, having brought over 50 projects with an aggregate capacity of 275mw to operation. By investing in local communities and partnering with local developers and contractors, Heelstone works to advance clean energy goals across the United States.

Mackinaw Power
Mackinaw Power is developing new renewable energy projects to provide power for the Great Lakes at competitive prices. Mackinaw Power also uses its experience within the wind industry to work with a variety of companies in Michigan to increase the supply chain for renewable energy technologies in the Midwest.
In 2003, Mackinaw Power acquired the assets of Bay Windpower, which developed the Great Lakes’ first privately developed wind power project. Mackinaw Power plans to be a catalyst for sustainable economic growth, environmental stewardship, and energy security. We are working to build sustainable communities to provide clean, affordable wind powerby harvesting the area’s wind resources.
Mackinaw Power is investing in Michigan’s future generations. We look forward to working with you to create renewable power that protects our Great Lakes, public health, and farm land.

Michigan CAT
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, only 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.

Peracchio & Company, LLC
John Peracchio is the managing member of Peracchio & Company, LLC. Mr. Peracchio established this entity as a platform to identify investment opportunities and provide consulting services to businesses and investors in the intelligent transportation systems, product and technology space. Mr. Peracchio is particularly interested in companies developing and deploying technologies that can be used to improve transportation mobility, sustainability, and safety. Mr. Peracchio was appointed co-chair of the Michigan Council on Future Mobility by Governor Rick Snyder in February 2017. By law, the council is charged with providing policy recommendations to promote the development of technologies for autonomous motor vehicles, connected vehicles, and to enhance personal mobility.

Mr. Peracchio is active with the Intelligent Transportation Society of America and the Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of Canada, associations of public and private entities operating in the intelligent transportation systems and vehicle infrastructure integration space around the world. He is a member of the Policy and Business Council of ITS America and chairs that group’s Investment and Technology Committee. He served on the Board of Directors of the World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems and as chair of the International Program Committee for the 2011 ITS World Congress in Orlando, Florida with responsibility for organizing all technical, special, executive, and plenary sessions at this event along with providing representation from The Americas at the 2009 ITS World Congress in Stockholm, Sweden and the 2010 ITS World Congress in Busan, Korea.

Skin Lease
In today’s evolving marketplace, advances in “Smart City” initiatives, GreenEnergy technology, urban advertising, and more have increased the demand for connection between modern cities, suburbs, and rural areas with the technology that fuels them.
Skin Lease, LLC is a Grand Rapids based company that is dedicated to helping owners of land or large buildings find new and different ways to make money on these assets.

Michigan Energy Stories

• Samsung plans to build a $62 million electric vehicle battery pack factory in Auburn Hills that will create more than 400 jobs, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced this week.
• Michigan EIBC member company Advanced Battery Concepts was featured by MEDC for taking advantage of the MEDC Capital Access program.
• As Michigan decision-makers invest more money in energy efficiency, the state’s market has accelerated forward dramatically since 2008.
• DTE Energy Co. is once again donating $10 million to help low-income residentspay utility bills as the state heads into the winter season.
• President Trump threatened to revoke General Motors’ electric vehicle tax credits after the company’s plan to close several plants, though experts say he wouldn’t be able to do so for a single company.
• A University of Michigan team hopes to offer a 15% efficient solar window product, which allows 50% of the light through. It has received US$1.3 million from the Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office to develop the idea further.

National Energy Stories

• Learn more about distribution system planning efforts across the country thanks to a detailed blog post from AEE.
• Michigan EIBC member ChargePoint announced $240 million in a series H round of funding to continue to expand the company’s success in the EV charging space.
• Vestas — a Michigan EIBC member — Vestas received an order for 100 V120-2.2 MW turbines for a project in the U.S., which takes Vestas’ order intake in 2018 across the 10 GW.
• Starbucks signed a long-term agreement to power more than 340 company-operated Illinois stores with 100 percent renewable energy.
• A bipartisan group of lawmakers unveils a carbon tax and dividend proposalthat would charge fossil fuel companies for their emissions and return all of the money to taxpayers.
• An Illinois county expects to approve 48 solar projects totaling two square miles as developers look to secure renewable energy credits.
• A Swiss clean energy company reaches a deal with a Nebraska power producer to develop 2,000 MW of solar across six Midwest states.
• A pilot project in New Hampshire will be one of the most ambitious tests of a utility’s ability to use behind-the-meter battery storage systems.
• A program in Columbus, Ohio, offers $3,000 rebates for electric vehicles to rideshare drivers.
• Bank of America will purchase the credits of a unique solar-wind hybrid project in Minnesota, following a trend of corporate renewable energy purchases.

Michigan Energy Events  

IEI will host a Corporate Purchasers Lunch & Learn at the House Office Building in Lansing on December 5. This event will be open to legislators and legislative staff, as well as Michigan EIBC members. Watch your inboxes for registration details.

Join the Michigan Interconnection Rules Update Stakeholder Process, hosted by the Michigan Public Service Commission Staff, which will explore options for new interconnection rules in accordance with the Commission’s recent order in Case No. U-20344.  The first meeting will be held on December 7, 2018 from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Commission offices at 7109 W. Saginaw Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917.  

GLREA is pleased to announce the 2018 Annual Meeting on Saturday, December 8.  The meeting will take place at the ‘Freighhouse’ located at 100 Market Pl, in Ypsilanti, MI 48198. For more information, visit the GLREA website.

You’re invited to attend our final 2018 electric vehicle convening on December 19th from 12pm – 3pm at the Michigan Public Service Commission (7109 West Saginaw Highway, Lansing, MI). RSVP here.

Attend Automobli-D January 14-17, an event showcasing suppliers driving mobility technology, V2I connectivity, urban mobility, smart cities, building a mobility workforce, ride sharing, cybersecurity and autonomous technologies.

The North American International Auto Show is Jan. 14-27 in Detroit.


National Energy Events    
 
The SEIA Federal & State Policy Summit on Dec. 4 – 5 is the a forum for examining federal and state policy issues and how they inform market opportunities and challenges in the solar industry. To register, click here.

Attend the Smart Cities International Symposium & Exhibition Jan. 22-24 in Chicago.

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Winter Policy Summit is February 10-13, 2019 in Washingtion DC. Click here for more information.


Announcements and Opportunities

The new gubernatorial administration is seeking applicants for the transition team and for appointments. Please visit michigantransition.org to apply.

Advanced Systems Integration for Solar Technologies (ASSIST). Deadline: Dec. 7, 2018. Awards: $46M.
The DOE seeks applications that will strengthen the integration of solar on the electricity grid, especially at critical infrastructure sites, improve the resilience of the nation’s electricity grid, and streamline technology transfer challenges.