Michigan EIBC and AEE: Draft Climate Council recommendations to build on state’s advanced energy success

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022
Contact: Stephanie Cepak, Byrum & Fisk Advocacy Communications, scepak@byrumfisk.com

Michigan EIBC and AEE: Draft Climate Council recommendations to build on state’s advanced energy success
MI Healthy Climate Plan draft can do more to boost electrification, clean energy economy

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (Michigan EIBC) released the following statement today after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Council on Climate Solutions released a draft of its MI Healthy Climate Plan, which is now available for public comment.

“Gov. Whitmer is positioning Michigan to be a leader in the advanced energy revolution, and this plan is a good start to fully realizing Michigan’s potential,” said Dr. Laura Sherman, president of Michigan EIBC. “While the recommendations outlined in the draft plan will support Michigan’s economic development and clean economy goals, there is more our state can and must do to build upon the success of the advanced energy industry. The final MI Healthy Climate Plan must prioritize investments in electrifying our transportation and building sectors as well as provide opportunities for Michiganders to invest in clean energy. This will help attract more businesses to the state, ensuring Michigan is competitive for thousands of good-paying advanced energy jobs for hard-working Michiganders. Today’s draft plan is a critical step for Michigan’s future, and we look forward to working with the administration, the legislature and other key stakeholders to improve the report and implement the final recommendations.”

Michigan EIBC is a partner of Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national business association of companies working to make the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable. AEE Managing Director Ryan Katofsky released the following statement today about Governor Whitmer’s draft plan:

“Advanced energy is a job creation engine and investing in it strengthens local economies and can lead to lower overall costs for consumers. This is especially true for Michigan, whose status as the capital of America’s automotive industry makes it uniquely positioned to benefit from an accelerated transition to an advanced energy economy. Governor Whitmer’s plans to invest in a cleaner grid and vehicle charging infrastructure should reflect the value to the thousands of Michigan families who depend on the advanced energy industry for their livelihoods, as well as the great potential to grow the electrified transportation industry in the state.”

Michigan jobs connected to electrified transportation are expected to grow by over 40% between 2019 and 2025, according to AEE’s recent EV Supply Chain analysis. Electrified transportation was responsible for $5.4 billion in Gross State Product (GSP) for Michigan in 2019.

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About Advanced Energy Economy

Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is a national association of businesses that are making the energy we use secure, clean, and affordable. AEE is the only industry association in the U.S. that represents the full range of advanced energy technologies and services, both grid-scale and distributed. Advanced energy includes energy efficiency, demand response, energy storage, wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, electric vehicles, and more. AEE’s mission is to transform public policy to enable rapid growth of advanced energy businesses. Engaged at the federal level, in wholesale power markets, and in more than a dozen states around the country, AEE represents more than 100 companies in the $240 billion U.S. advanced energy industry, which employs 3.2 million U.S. workers. AEE’s PowerSuite online platform allows users to track regulatory and legislative issues in state legislatures, U.S. Congress, state PUCs, RTOs/ISOs, and FERC. Sign up for a free trial at powersuite.aee.net. Follow us at @AEEnet.