Council on Future Mobility and Electrification Appointments and Sustainability Efforts

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:

Appointments to the Council on Future Mobility and Electrification Include Michigan EIBC’s Cory Connolly

 Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Oct. 22 unveiled her appointments to the Council on Future Mobility and Electrification, which will advise the governor’s recently created Office of Future Mobility and Electrification and recommend changes to state policy affecting autonomous and connected vehicle technology, transportation electrification, charging infrastructure and more.

Michigan EIBC is thrilled that our VP of Policy Cory Connolly was appointed to the council! “We appreciate the Governor’s recognition of Cory’s deep expertise in vehicle electrification, charging infrastructure deployment, and energy policy in general. We’re excited for the opportunity to enable the state’s electrified, autonomous, and connected vehicle future” said Michigan EIBC President Laura Sherman. “Mr. Connolly is appointed to represent business, policy, research, or technological leaders in future mobility for a term commencing October 22, 2020 and expiring October 22, 2022,” according to the governor’s office.

Read the full list of appointments here.


More Efforts to Spur Corporate Sustainability From Michigan EIBC Members

Earlier this year we reported on actions several member companies have taken to make corporate operations and supply chains more sustainable. Some more recent sustainability efforts involving member companies include:

On Oct. 14, Hemlock Semiconductor released its first sustainability report. It showcases how the company is putting its vision of a “Sustainable Society” into practice by striving to reduce “embodied carbon” (carbon emissions stemming from the manufacture of a product) across the solar supply chain. As detailed in the report, Hemlock has improved its own building energy efficiency and managed its peak demand through analytics, among other steps. The company has been able to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity in its polysilicon manufacturing process by five percent over the last five years.

Other news shows how Michigan EIBC member companies have worked to help other companies stay on track with their own sustainability goals during the pandemic. Many employees are going back to work in corporate offices, which makes internal air quality particularly important. “As building owners have considered and experienced what ‘back to work’ looks like in communities around the world, we’re seeing a number of customers consider items such as touchless controls, updated HVAC systems and automated entry/exit systems to address both the efficiency needs of the building and the health and safety of the occupants,” Lou Maltezos, executive vice president of Michigan EIBC member Ameresco, was quoted as saying in an article by the publication Commercial Property Executive. 

Finally, last month Michigan EIBC member Schneider Electric announced a collaboration with Walmart on the retail giant’s Project Gigaton, which seeks to avoid a gigaton of CO2 emissions from Walmart’s global value chain by 2030. Through the new Gigaton PPA Program, Schneider Electric will help Walmart suppliers determine how to adopt more renewable energy through aggregate power purchase agreements. 



The Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (Michigan EIBC) invites you to join us for the 8th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Gala taking place on Thursday, November 12 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm EST via Zoom.

During the gala, we will announce and celebrate this year’s Business of the Year and Project of the Year as voted on by the Michigan EIBC membership.

We are excited to announce that the opening speaker for the gala is Dr. Tony G. Reames, assistant professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment & Sustainability and director of the Urban Energy Justice Lab.

Dr. Reames conducts research in the emerging field of energy justice, investigating fair and equitable access to affordable, reliable, efficient and clean energy, and seeks to understand the production and persistence of spatial, racial, and socioeconomic residential energy disparities. He teaches a course on green development. Dr. Reames has a PhD in public administration, a Masters in engineering management, and a BS in civil engineering. Dr. Reames is also a licensed professional engineer and US Army veteran. He is a board member of the Institute for Energy Innovation.

The keynote speaker is Dana Nessel, Attorney General for the State of Michigan.

RSVP Today! 

Timeline:
4:30 – 5:00 pm – Pre-Gala Happy Hour
5:00 – 6:00 pm – Gala Program

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event and can be found on the Michigan EIBC website.
 

Event Sponsors

Gigawatt Level

Megawatt Level

Kilowatt Level

               

 



More information on Keynote Speaker:
Dana Nessel took office as Michigan’s Attorney General on January 1, 2019. Nessel honed her skills with the Wayne County Prosecutor before starting her practice as a defender of constitutional rights and the rights of indigent defendants, and as a premier litigator of LGBTQ issues. She challenged Michigan’s bans on adoption and marriage for same-sex couples with DeBoer v. Snyder; the landmark US Supreme Court case legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Nessel founded the Fair Michigan Foundation and with the Wayne County Prosecutor created the Fair Michigan Justice Project to prosecute hate crimes. A University of Michigan and Wayne State University Law School graduate, Nessel lives with her wife, Alanna Maguire, and their twin sons, Alex and Zach.


New Member

Key Capture Energy
Key Capture Energy identifies, develops, constructs and operates energy storage solutions to foster greater deployment of renewable energy, create a more stable electric grid, and provide value to all ratepayers.

Renewing Members


ArborWind, LLC
ArborWind’s mission is to power the world with clean, economical energy. Using patented Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) technology, ArborWind is bringing a world-changing renewable energy source that is clean, safe, economical and most importantly, durable. The ArborWind PT180 has proven reliability that is unmatched in its class. With a small footprint, quick installation and low maintenance, the PT Series Turbines (PT100, PT150, PT180, PT300) provide a renewable solution for a variety of applications including agriculture, industrial and commercial, housing projects as well as most urban and rural community settings. Learn more about ArborWind and Vertical Axis Wind Turbines at www.arborwind.com


The Energy Alliance Group of Michigan
In 2012, The Energy Alliance Group of North America (EAG) was started for one purpose, to develop and deploy innovative solutions to energy, waste, and environmental challenges around the world.
The differentiating strength of our methods for developing solutions is the holistic approach we take and the extensive knowledge we and our partners have, in technology, financing, incentives, and integrated services – all critical elements to insuring the highest return on investment (ROI) for our clients.
Unlike most competitors, EAG is technology agnostic and solution driven. Representing or distributing no particular product or technology, our clients are provided with an optimal solution – not one in which EAG has a vested financial interest. In addition to reducing utility costs, we identify a number of incentives and operational savings to maximize our clients ROI. These include tax incentives, tax credits, utility choice, and other operational cost recovery services that complement the holistic approach we take.
For each opportunity, EAG defines the total cost of ownership for a period of 20-years or longer. Combined with the utility reduction to be achieved, our life cycle cost models include qualified credits and incentives, and identify maintenance, end of life replacement costs and inflation costs – all representing the true cost of ownership and return on investment. This capability and area of expertise, allows a “cradle to grave” approach to efficiency improvement and cost recovery solutions for energy, waste, and environmental challenges, large or small.
Together with our technology and service partners, EAG is considered a leader in developing and deploying solutions for energy, waste and environmental challenges, with an expertise in Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) funded projects.


RWE Renewables
RWE Renewables is one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world and is proud to develop, build, and operate clean, affordable renewable energy projects across the United States. With more than 5GW of renewables under operation, more than $7 billion in assets, and more than 700 employees across the U.S., RWE Renewables is committed to building the future with our energy for a sustainable life.


TRC Environmental Corporation
TRC Environmental is considered a pioneer in groundbreaking scientific and engineering developments since the 1960s, TRC is a national engineering services, consulting and construction management firm that provides integrated services to the energy, environmental and infrastructure markets. TRC serves a broad range of clients in government and industry, implementing complex projects from initial concept to delivery and operation.  




Michigan Energy News

  • General Motors says it will invest $150 million across five Michigan plants to amp up electric vehicle production, such as $100 million at the Lansing Delta plant so it can produce the next-generation GMC Acadia.
  • Electricity use by Michigan’s industrial sector dropped by 32% in the second quarter, the largest such drop in the country, according to a new report by CommercialCafe.
  • Some environmental groups are skeptical of plans to use Michigan state forests as offsets for CO2 emissions.
  • DTE says that monthly energy bills may go up more than they usually do in winter this year due to more people working from home.
  • The city of Petoskey’s rooftop solar array on its city hall is planned to be completed by the end of the year.

National Energy News

  • GM will also invest $2 billion for a plant in Spring Hill, Tennessee, for the production of electric Cadillacs.
  • Elon Musk says Tesla’s battery research and development effort is aiming for the “perfect cell.”
  • Corporate purchasing of renewable energy could spur the development of 44 GW to 72 GW of wind and solar capacity over the next decade, according to IHS Markit.
  • NPR reports on how clean energy sector jobs like in solar and energy efficiency are more stable than jobs in oil and gas.
  • Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) reaches build-transfer agreements with subsidiaries of Michigan EIBC member NextEra Energy Resources for 900 MW of solar and 135 MW of battery storage.
  • North Dakota regulators approve funding for carbon capture research in hopes that the technology will allow the Coal Creek coal-fired power plant to avoid retirement.



Online Resources

Due to the number of events that have been canceled or postponed due to the pandemic, we are sharing some online webinars and tutorials on advanced energy topics that may be of interest.
 The National Regulatory Research Institute has a three-part webinar series on “The Impact of COVID-19 on Utility Rate Making.”

Due to COVID-19, PlugVolt is offering complimentary access to a webinar series that provides a guide to how to select primary and secondary cells for battery products.

The Small Business Association of Michigan has many online resources including Youtube webinars and daily video briefings about COVID-19 and how small businesses in Michigan can cope.

Norton Rose Fulbright regularly organizes webinars featuring experts and executives of major companies, such as this one on the challenges that COVID-19 and low commodity prices pose to the energy industry.

The Clean Energy Group has a huge archive of webinars and presentations related to net metering, energy efficiency, EVs, energy storage and much more.

The Energy Storage Association has a number of upcoming and recorded webinars covering many different facets of energy storage. 



Michigan Energy Events

Join the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for an Oct. 29 webinar about an upcoming request for proposals (RFP) for Power Purchase Agreements at more than a dozen potential solar sites in Southwest Michigan. Sign up here.

Register for Michigan EIBC’s Michigan Energy Innovators Gala on Nov. 12.

The University of Michigan Ross School of Business is holding its inaugural Ross Energy WeekNov. 16-20, including a Renewable Energy Case Competition and Energy Conference.   

National Energy Events

The Battery Show & EV Tech Digital Days is a virtual expo for the advanced battery industry, planned for Nov. 10-12.

The Great Plains Institute is holding a webinar series on the Midwestern clean fuels policy. Learn more here.

Opportunities

The Green Task Force is requesting that non-profit and faith-based organizations fill out a brief survey to assess readiness for solar projects.

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.

The Detroit 2030 District is a free program that challenges Detroit building owners and managers to reduce wasted energy. Those that achieve the greatest reductions from the prior-year baseline will be recognized at the first annual Detroit Energy Challenge Award Ceremony in 2021. Visit 2030districts.org/Detroit to find out more information including how a building can apply.