Post-Election Recap Tomorrow in Grand Rapids On Tuesday, midterm elections helped reshape the political landscape for advanced energy issues in Michigan and across the country. On Friday, Michigan EIBC staff and our team at Dykema will present an in-depth analysis for Michigan EIBC members of the election results and offer insight into the new political landscape in Lansing. This members-only event will also be a chance to discuss Michigan EIBC’s policy priorities in 2019 given the election results.

If you are an EIBC member and will be attending in person, please register via this link.

Who will be “Business of the Year” at the Michigan Energy Innovators Gala on Nov. 14?

Last year, Bedrock Detroit won “Business of the Year” at the Michigan Energy Innovators Gala and the Michigan EIBC team is excited to announce this year’s “Business of the Year” recipient on November 14.

Bedrock is a full service commercial real estate firm specializing in the strategic development of urban cores. As a prominent real estate company in Detroit, Bedrock Detroit was honored for its commitment to deploying advanced energy solutions in their operations and at their properties. Bedrock strives to incorporate energy efficiency programs into every facet of its operations. The company has even written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) in the areas of energy efficiency, used for due diligence and considerations of purchasing properties. Bedrock also works with utility providers to take advantage of utility rebates and incentive programs when building upgrades are needed. In addition, Bedrock has created specific educational programs for staff, tenants, contractors to support energy efficiency and energy waste reduction.

Bedrock Detroit presents a great example of the breadth and reach of the advanced energy industry, while also demonstrating the important leadership that a company can bring through its business decisions. We look forward to seeing you at the Michigan Energy Innovators Gala on November 14 to celebrate this year’s “Business of the Year.”

Michigan EIBC President Keynote’s Michigan ESCO Awards

On Wednesday, Michigan EIBC President Liesl Eichler Clark provided the keynote address for the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Awards hosted by the Michigan Chapter of the Energy Services Coalition. At the event, forward-thinking school districts, colleges, and local governments were honored for energy efficiency and energy waste reduction projects undertaken utilizing energy performance contracting. Clark provided comments on innovation and market disruption in the advanced energy industry. These changes and current market trends present significant opportunities for the energy services market.

“New smart devices, AI, and increased access to data are making the energy landscape more dynamic and ESCOs are positioned to use these advancements and help bring them to customers” said Clark. “Michigan’s ESCO industry is perfectly positioned to turn this disruption in the energy industry into an opportunity.“

New Members

PACE Loan Group
PACE Loan Group is a direct originator of Commercial PACE Loans designed to incentive developers and landlords to use clean and/or renewable energy improvements in their properties. PLG will provide financing for adaptive re-use, gut renovations, and new construction projects specializing in complex capital structures. PLG’s mission is to reduce developers’ and landlords’ cost of capital to promote efficient and sustainable communities.
PLG was formed by a group of finance and real estate professionals and is led by its co-founder and CEO, Rafi Golberstein. Mr. Golberstein is a commercial real estate finance veteran with 12 years of experience in CRE structured finance, loan origination and equity investments. Prior to co-founding PLG, Golberstein was a Managing Director at Ladder Capital, a publicly traded REIT, where he focused on CMBS origination, balance sheet and mezzanine loans as well as equity investments. Prior to Ladder, Mr. Golberstein worked at Gramercy Capital and Credit Suisse in its commercial real estate large loan group.

Pine Gate Renewables
Pine Gate Renewables is a U.S.-based developer, owner and operator of utility-scale solar farms. Pine Gate owns and operates 250 MW around the country and has a development pipeline of 800+ MW. Based in Charlotte, NC with an office in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, Pine Gate Renewables’ mission of providing locally generated renewable solar power for communities nationwide is centered on utility-scale sites from 2 – 100+ MW. The company specializes in land origination, project development, project financing and asset management. Pine Gate Renewables is committed to the broad transformation of our nation’s energy model by making community-based solar an option for everyone.

Michigan Energy Stories

• Michigan EIBC Board Member Andy Levin was one of a number of candidates electedto the US House of Representatives that are supportive of advanced energy.
• Replacing aging diesel school buses with cleaner models — including electric buses — is the first priority in Michigan’s $64.8 million plan to spend Volkswagen settlement funds.
• Hydroelectric dams will become a less sustainable source of renewable energy as the climate changes, particularly in the developing world, according to a new report from Michigan State University.
• A program in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula provides solar panels, energy assessments and energy assistance to low- and moderate-income households.
• Supporters say the 130 megawatt project near Lake Superior could bring badly needed tax revenue to the rural area, while opponents — including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community — say it threatens the local wilderness.
• Starting this week, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) will offer a livestream of all meetings so the public and other stakeholders have another way they can participate in proceedings before the Commission. The livestream is available here.
• Rolling back federal CAFE and GHG standards would have little effect on the plug-in electric vehicle market, according to Navigant Research.
• The Michigan Energy Office (MEO) announced a new program that offers rebates to eligible small manufacturers in the Upper Peninsula for energy waste reduction (EWR) activities and projects.
• The Pine River Energy Center’s final wind turbine was lifted into place on Oct. 8, marking the near-completion of a project that began in early July where building trades workers have erected an array of 65 of the white wind catchers across 35,000 acres in Gratiot and Isabella counties. The work has been done on behalf of owner Invenergy, a Michigan EIBC member company.
• Renewable Energy Systems hopes to build a 130 megawatt wind farm on privately owned timberlands in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  The Summit Lake Wind Project would be able to generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 45,000 homes.
• The Detroit Economic Club Gubernatorial Forum featured Governor-elect Whitmer on October 31. Her comments included a mention of energy issues (at the 35:15 time stamp).
• A utility watchdog group provided analysis of campaign contributions by utility PACs and executives in nine states, including Michigan.
• Michigan State University is transforming its 5,200-acre campus into a live, connected ecosystem to drive mobility research and development to advance smart-vehicle technology and better understand the human element.

National Energy Stories

• Tennessee Valley Authority will build two of the largest solar installations in Tennessee and Alabama to power Facebook’s new Huntsville, Alabama data center.
• An Indiana utility’s plan to transition to renewables in the next decade suggests the end of the coal industry “may be nearer than some expect.”
• Vermont’s Middlebury College will vote tomorrow on whether to divest investments in the fossil fuel industry from its more than $1.1 billion endowment.
• Boulder, Colorado rolled out its first electric bus, which was converted from diesel to electric by a local company.
• Seven states will soon build enough turbines to double their wind energy capacity, according to an industry report.
• Wind energy now is the lowest-cost power option in the High Plains and Midwest, according to a new study from the University of Texas.
• The price of lithium-ion batteries is declining faster than anticipated, causing Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) to significantly increase its forecast for global deployment energy storage, both behind-the-meter and grid-scale.
• Voters in Columbus, Ohio, suburb give city officials the go ahead to explore municipal electricity aggregation.
• Michigan EIBC member company Petros PACE Finance completed a $2.3 million PACE transaction in Nebraska.  

Michigan Energy Events  

Michigan EIBC will host a members-only election recap on Friday, November 9. Watch your inboxes for registration details.

Michigan EIBC’s Annual Energy Innovator’s Gala is scheduled for Wednesday, November 14, in Lansing. Sponsorship opportunities are available and interested sponsors should contact Nicole Forward at nicole@mieibc.org. For more information on the Gala and to register, please check out the website.

Greenhome Institute is hosting “Building Green & Beer Series: Benefits of going all electric in buildings” on November 28 in Grand Rapids. Register here.

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.

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     

You’re invited to Facing Race, a conference taking place in Detroit November 8-10. The conference will include several components related to energy democracy, helping cities and states to implement their new energy programs in a way that is racially equitable. For more information, please click here.

The 130th NARUC Annual Meeting and Education Conference will convene state and national utility regulators, federal and state policymakers, industry representatives, consumer advocates, informed experts, and other engaged stakeholders in Orlando, Florida, November 11-14.Register here.

Attend the SEIA Women’s Empowerment Summit at Solar Power Midwest provides thought leadership on the value of a diverse, inclusive solar workforce – November 13 in Chicago – Register today.
 
The 6th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Gala is on November 14 in East Lansing hosted by the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council.

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) invite you to Solar Power Midwest in Chicago on November 14-15. 

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

Announcements and Opportunities
The Michigan Energy Office (MEO) is offering rebates to eligible small manufacturers in the Upper Peninsula for energy waste reduction (EWR) activities.
 
The new gubernatorial administration is seeking applicants for the transition team and for appointments. Please visit michigantransition.org to apply.

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Clean Diesel Funding Opportunity. Deadline: Nov. 26, 2018. Awards: $425,000
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality seeks proposals for competitive grant funding for the 2019 Michigan Clean Diesel Program. This RFP targets projects involving the early replacement of old diesel equipment and vehicles with new diesel, alternative fuel, as well as electric and hybrid equipment vehicles.
 
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.