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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:
Michigan EIBC in Greentech Media: Building Electrification is Coming Fast
In a new piece at Greentech Media, Michigan EIBC President Laura Sherman explores building electrification, why it is a critical goal for advanced energy in general and how to make steps toward it even in colder climates like the Midwest where natural gas is the dominant source of indoor heating.
The piece builds upon ideas discussed in a June virtual event on building electrification that featured BlocPower founder Donnel Baird and Rocky Mountain Institute Principal Jacob Corvidae. Electrification has huge potential and can be considered in the same place now that battery storage and renewable energy were a few years ago, Corvidae said. As Sherman writes, “there are already electrification successes racking up in our home state” in Michigan.
Michigan Energy Innovators Gala Will Feature Michigan AG Dana Nessel as Keynote Speaker
Michigan EIBC is excited to announce that its 8th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Gala will be taking place on Thursday, November 12 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm EST via Zoom, featuring keynote speaker Dana Nessel, Attorney General for the State of Michigan!
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. The nomination form can also be found on the Michigan EIBC website.
Completed nomination forms should be emailed to mieibc@mieibc.org by September 15 at 5:00 pm EST.
RSVP Today! Member tickets are only $15.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event and can be found on the Michigan EIBC website.
Kilowatt Sponsors
Energy 101 This Month Tackles Workforce Development in Advanced Energy
The Institute for Energy Innovation’s next Energy 101 session on September 16th will feature panelists from a cross section of the advanced energy industry to speak about workforce development.
Panelists include:
- Gordon-Victor Fon, Project Manager, Walker-Miller Energy Services
- Amy Heart, Director, Public Policy, Sunrun
- Phil Rausch, Business Development Manager, Hemlock Semiconductor
- Max Schuster, Director of Project Development – Energy + Infrastructure, Barton Malow
Registration is open to Michigan EIBC members, legislators, and legislative staff. Please email mieibc@mieibc.org if you’d like to attend!
Corporate Purchasing of Advanced Energy Educational Meeting Coming This Month
The phenomenon of corporations directly procuring renewable energy is developing and becoming more sophisticated, as, for example, corporate customers try to more precisely match their electricity consumption with purchased renewable energy. Many companies have also been installing on-site renewable energy to power their facilities, such as Michigan-based Whirlpool, which has built wind turbines near its manufacturing plant in Ohio.
On Sept. 23, a panel including Caitlin Marquis of Advanced Energy Economy and Ron Voglewede of Whirlpool and Drew Horning of the Graham Sustainability Institute at the University of Michigan will explore this topic of Corporate Purchasing of Advanced Energy in a Zoom networking meeting sponsored by Michigan EIBC and the West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum. Registration will be open soon and attendance will be free for Michigan EIBC and West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum members.
Internship Opportunity with Michigan EIBC and IEI
Michigan EIBC and the Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI) seek a paid intern to support their regulatory engagement work, energy storage research, and (as needed) administrative tasks. The selected candidate will be expected to dedicate approximately 10-15 hours per week to this work starting on or around October 12, 2020. More information can be found here.
To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and short writing sample to
Michigan EIBC and IEI President Laura Sherman (laura@mieibc.org) by close
of business (5pm EDT) on September 18, 2020.
Michigan Energy News
- Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor writes about how the city is approaching solar energy and vehicle electrification as it strives to meet its net-zero emissions goal.
- Consumers Energy’s proposed solar tariff rates would hinder Grand Rapids’ recent growth in solar projects on city buildings, businesses and residential buildings, city officials say.
- Michigan EIBC member Hemlock Semiconductor acquires the assets to produce trichlorosalane, the company’s primary raw material, from DuPont, expanding Hemlock’s footprint in Michigan and, in a related move, the company purchases and retires DuPont’s ownership shares, making Corning the company’s majority owner.
- An Ingham County judge lifts the partial shutdown of Enbridge’s Line 5.
- Some investors are calling upon GM to spin off its EV assets into a new company.
National Energy News
- Uber commits to 100% of its rides in the U.S., Canada in Europe coming from electric vehicles by 2030, and by 2040 for the rest of the world.
- The second quarter of 2020 was one of the biggest yet for new energy storage deployments.
- In a move described as making it difficult for New York state to meet its clean energy goals, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rejects a proposal from the New York Independent System Operator that would have allowed renewable energy and batteries to compete in the state’s wholesale capacity market.
- NextEra Energy is securing land near Kansas City for a project with 500 MW each of solar and battery storage.
- U.S. electricity use will drop 2.4% this year as a rise in consumer use does not offset a drop for commercial and industrial users, the U.S. Department of Energy projects.
- The City of Chicago releases a $200 million request for proposals to support the city’s goal of running all city buildings on renewable energy by 2025.
Online Resources
Due to the number of events that have been canceled or postponed due to the pandemic, we are sharing some online events, 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
On Sept. 24, the 2030 Districts for Ann Arbor, Detroit and Grand Rapids are holding the next entry in the Healthy Buildings Webinar Series, “Reach Zero Carbon Through Michigan 2030 Districts and DTE Incentives.” Register here.
The Oct. 7 webinar Zero Net Energy Webinar: Leveraging Collaboration for a Winning ZNE or ZNE Ready Project features presenters from Michigan EIBC member Energy Sciences LLC who will talk about lessons learned from Michigan’s first net zero project, IBEW Local 58’s headquarters in Detroit. Register here.
The University of Michigan Ross School of Business is holding its inaugural Ross Energy WeekNov. 16 to 20, including a Renewable Energy Case Competition an Energy Conference.
National Energy Events
The Clean Grid Alliance invites you to explore the current roadblocks and other challenges facing Corporate and Industrial purchasers, and discuss market innovations needed to unlock the marketplace for this growing renewable energy market segment. The Oct. 9 event features Miranda Ballentine, Founding CEO, Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance, as the keynote speaker. Register today!
The Solar Energy Industries Association’s Solar and Energy Storage Southeast event is scheduled to take place in Atlanta on Nov. 9 to 10.
The Great Plains Institute is holding a webinar series on the Midwestern clean fuels policy. Learn more here.
Opportunities
The Washtenaw Intermediate School District has released an RFP for a solar installation. Bidding closes Oct. 6.
Michigan EGLE’s Energy Storage RFP offers up to $200,000 in matching funding for help creating an Energy Storage Roadmap. Responses are due Sept. 14.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources released new RFPs for utility-scale solar systems at sites in northern Michigan, one in Dickinson County and the other in Crawford County. Find more information here.
The Kent County Department of Public Works is looking for an anchor tenant for its planned Sustainable Business Park. Learn about the RFP here.
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.
Ann Arbor Public Schools have an RFP for an electric bus charging station.
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.
The Michigan Energy Office’s Small Manufacturers Energy Waste Reduction Incentive Pilot is offering rebates of up to $15,000 per company for small manufacturers that can implement energy efficiency activities between Oct. 1, 2019 and July 31, 2020. There is a 100% minimum match requirement. Click here to learn more about eligibility and apply.