Michigan EIBC Newsletter: Draft Climate Plan Comments, Panel Topics for Conference and More

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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 and AEE Outline Improvements for the MI Healthy Climate Plan

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s (EGLE) draft MI Healthy Climate Plan is a “great start” but with a range of additional policies, can much more powerfully position Michigan to be a leader in growing the advanced energy industry, Michigan EIBC and Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) said in comments on the draft submitted to EGLE last week.
The draft MI Healthy Climate Plan targets achieving net zero emissions for Michigan by 2050, and plans to do so with a number of steps that Michigan EIBC and AEE strongly support, such as the adoption of a 50% RPS by 2030, the use of 100% renewable energy in state buildings and investments into EV charging infrastructure.
But Michigan EIBC and AEE lay out many additional policies that the plan should include. Here are some of the policies that could make the biggest difference for the various sectors that produce emissions.

Electricity

Remove the distributed generation cap to allow rooftop solar and other forms of distributed energy to scale up.
Adopt a state target for energy storage deployment of 4,000 MW of in-front of the meter storage by 2040, with a short-term target of 1,000 MW by 2025 and a medium-term target of 2,500 MW by 2030, and improve the modeling of storage in the Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process.
Create a fund to provide public schools with grants to install solar plus storage projects, reducing emissions from buildings and reducing energy costs for schools.

Businesses and Homes

Adopt the 2021 Model Energy Code and include provisions to support electric vehicle charging, building electrification, smart thermostats, and renewable and storage readiness, as well as a stretch code to allow local units of government to develop stronger local codes.
Establish a building electrification target that 100% of all new heating equipment sales be electric by 2035, and set interim targets leading to 2035.
Adopt a 2% energy waste reduction target for electricity and 1% for natural gas and encourage utilities to increase spending on energy efficiency programs, particularly those serving low-income customers.
Direct utilities to implement demand response programs identified by a study conducted by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).
Make necessary updates to the commercial property-assessed clean energy (C-PACE) program to expand access to energy efficiency and renewable upgrades for businesses.

Transportation

Utilize all available federal and state funding to build infrastructure to support 2 million electric vehicles across multiple driver segments on Michigan roads by 2030.
Fund a study to determine the most cost-effective way to transition the state’s fleet to EVs.

U of M Study Looks At Information Gaps for Pollution in Low-Income Neighborhoods

The transition to renewable energy, distributed generation, energy storage, efficiency and other forms of advanced energy can improve local air quality in neighborhoods that suffer from disproportionate levels of pollution and energy burden, a topic that we have discussed in this newsletter previously.

A new study from University of Michigan Associate Professor of Public Policy Catherine Hausman and University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability Assistant Professor Samuel Stolper explores a less-understood aspect of pollution in low-income neighborhoods. The authors found that the lack of information about pollution is a major contributing factor in the disparity of impacts on communities.

An MLive article about the study quotes Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice Executive Director Laprisha Berry Daniels to give a concrete example of this lack of information. “There was a time when there was an incident in industry in southwest Detroit and southwest Detroit residents were not evacuated, and a neighboring community, Melvindale, was evacuated. And folks in southwest Detroit did not get information about what was happening. And folks in a neighboring community did receive information about what was happening,” Daniels said.

The study finds that these kinds of information disparities are pervasive, and contribute to a general tendency to underestimate the costs of pollution. As a result, the benefits of eliminating pollution by moving toward cleaner energy are also underestimated.

Panel Topics Announced for 10th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference

Tickets are on sale for the Michigan Energy Innovators Conference on April 26 at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing. Typically our most popular event of the year, the Michigan Energy Innovators Conference provides attendees an opportunity to network, learn about innovations in advanced energy, and get an overview on the latest policy developments. This event includes: main-stage panels, several break-out panels with dozens of expert panelists, TED-style talks, and networking.

For information on sponsorship opportunities and benefits, please click here or contact Brianna Gerard at brianna@mieibc.org.

MAIN STAGE + BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Peering Into the Crystal Ball: What the 2022 Election Could Mean for Energy Policy
Harnessing Federal Resources: Opportunities to Enable Michigan’s Energy Future
Floods, Blizzards, and Heat Waves: The Role of DERs in Improving Reliability and Resilience
Energy Storage: Exploring the Future of the “Bacon of the Grid”
All Energy is Local: The Role of City, Township, and County Government

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Tony G. Reames was most recently a professor of environment and sustainability at the University of Michigan, where he established the Urban Energy Justice Lab to conduct research and develop solutions on the production and persistence of racial, income, and geographic disparities in energy access, affordability, decision making, and participation. Reames served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and worked in both the private and public sectors as a licensed professional engineer. He earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, a Master of Engineering Management from Kansas State University, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from the University of Kansas.

COVID-19 POLICY

Attendees of our Conference are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of the start of the event. The CDC defines fully vaccinated as two weeks after receiving a second shot of a two-dose vaccine or two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. We will ask for proof of vaccine or negative test at registration. We will follow CDC guidelines with regards to COVID-19 and keep everyone updated as we get closer to the Conference. Michigan EIBC strongly suggests all attendees be either vaccinated or wear a mask inside the venue at all times if not fully vaccinated.

THANK YOU TO OUR CURRENT SPONSORS!

GIGAWATT

MEGAWATT

KILOWATT

THE WATT

Speakers Announced For Our Virtual Energy Storage Convening on March 14

Join us for our public and virtual Energy Storage Convening on Monday, March 14 that will present the culmination of a year of work into the soon-to-be-released roadmap for the future of energy storage in Michigan.

In 2020 the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) put out an RFP that sought “to create an energy storage roadmap to determine energy storage potential in Michigan and develop recommendations to inform investment and policies regarding energy storage.” Such a plan was necessary to ensure Michigan is able to access the grid performance and reliability benefits of energy storage in the future.

The Institute for Energy Innovation along with partners Michigan EIBC, 5 Lakes Energy and Michigan State University won that bid and have been working on the roadmap, focusing on a variety of storage technologies, such as batteries, thermal storage, compressed air storage, pumped storage and more.

The convening will feature small group discussion and discussion with experts, providing an excellent opportunity for both networking and strategizing to advance policies to support energy storage deployment in Michigan. Register for the convening here.

SPEAKERS:

New Members

Rowan Digital Infrastructure

Rowan Digital Infrastructure develops reliable and green utilities for datacenters. Rowan’s mission is to provide direct power delivery from high voltage transmission infrastructure as well as back-up power solutions which can be installed and operated by Rowan subject to customer preferences. The aim is to deliver 24/7 power reliability that meets customer net zero targets.

Sunnova

Sunnova is a leading national residential solar company. We believe in delivering unparalleled service, providing more choices and access to clean, affordable and reliable energy with customized options to fit any home and budget.

Renewing Members

Advanced Battery Concepts

Advanced Battery Concepts is a battery technology development company focused on the advancement of large-format, energy storage solutions. They have developed a broad portfolio of patents and trade-secrets, termed GreenSeal® technology, which enables improved performance at lower production cost for traditional lead-acid batteries with extendibility into other advanced chemistries.

The Green Panel
Incorporated on June 12, 2007 The Green Panel, Inc. is a Michigan-based turnkey solar PV company that Engineers, Furnishes, and Installs (EF&I) solar photovoltaic systems. Our goal is to build long-lasting relationships with our customers, exceeding their expectations. The Green Panel often finds itself as an educator through the engineering, furnishing, and installing process because of our 12+ year history in the renewable energy market. We have serviced residential, commercial, industrial and educational entities throughout the State of Michigan, with offices in Brighton/Grand Rapids and a warehouse in Brighton. Our installers are all W-2 employees and we have our own fleet of trucks/trailers.

Michigan Energy News

Michigan EIBC member Kent County Board of Public Works approves a $350 million waste-to-energy and recycling project.
The Citizens Utility Board of Michigan elects Keith Cooley as its next president.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm is touring Michigan EIBC member Hemlock Semiconductor this week.
The MPSC says it will create an “online clearinghouse” for information about power outages.
Michigan AG Dana Nessel joins with a multistate coalition to urge the U.S. Department of Energy to update the factor it uses to determine how much “fuel” an EV uses for the purpose of calculating fleetwide fuel economy for auto manufacturers.
The Canadian government calls for the state of Michigan to end efforts to close the Line 5 pipeline.

National Energy News

Battery-electric vehicles have approximately 64% lower cradle-to-grave life cycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to vehicles with internal combustion engines, according to a study from the University of Michigan and Ford.
Michigan EIBC member General Motors and Pacific Gas & Electric are working on a pilot project that uses GM EV trucks to power homes.
Solar and battery storage projects will make up about 60% of new U.S. generating capacity from 2022 to 2023, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announces schools in underserved communities around the country that are winning rebates for electric school buses.
Startup Eco Wave Power seeks to make wave energy feasible by focusing on areas close to shore.
Consumer interest in EVs spike following big increases in gas prices.

Job Board

Attention Michigan EIBC members: if you have a job announcement you would like in the newsletter, please send a paragraph describing the position and a link to apply to Matt Bandyk at matt@mieibc.org. Please include in the email a specific end date for the job posting.

Lean & Green Michigan

Position: Communications and Business Associate
Lean & Green Michigan is seeking a motivated and self-directed individual to join the team, communicating through a variety of media about all aspects of the Lean & Green Michigan PACE program. The successful candidate should have excellent writing and communication skills, experience with social media, enthusiasm for working in the business community, environmental policy, renewable energy and energy efficiency, attention to detail, and strong desire to deploy energy and water efficiency and renewable energy in Michigan.

Michigan Energy Efficiency Contractors Association

Position: Part-Time Membership Director
The Membership Director will strengthen MEECA’s capacity by supporting the organization’s membership base. The Membership Director will develop and manage a program to regularly engage with member companies to serve their needs. This person will also streamline the annual renewal process, contribute to MEECA’s website and social media presence, and perform other duties assigned by the Executive Director. This is a part-time, remote position for a Michigan resident.

Ranger Power

Position: Assistant Development Manager
Ranger Power is seeking an Assistant Development Manager to join its development team in its Chicago office. As part of a small and dynamic development team, assistant development managers are expected to manage varying responsibilities as projects progress through the development process. As a developer at Ranger Power, you will drive all aspects of project development and strategy, including site prospecting and land acquisition, site analysis, landowner relations, permitting, interconnection, business development, and community engagement and outreach.

Michigan and National Energy Events

Join us on March 14 for a virtual public energy storage convening. The team from the Institute for Energy Innovation, 5 Lakes Energy, and Michigan State University will present an Energy Storage Roadmap for Michigan and an industry panel will discuss next steps to support energy storage deployment in Michigan. Register here.

The 10th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference will be held April 26 at the Kellogg Conference Center at MSU in East Lansing. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now.

On July 12-14, PlugVolt will be hosting its next Battery Seminar in Plymouth, MI (USA) featuring an entire day of in-depth technical tutorials on solid-state batteries, next-gen anodes and cathodes, battery diagnostics, failures, battery management systems, etc. by world renowned professors from Top 50 US Universities. Attendees will also get an exclusive opportunity to tour INTERTEK Battery Testing Center of Excellence in Plymouth, MI (USA) firsthand, ask questions to resident experts, and enjoy some light appetizers and beverages while networking with industry peers. Register here.

Opportunities

Indiana Michigan Power Company (I&M), via Charles River Associates (CRA) serving as the Independent Monitor, has released the 2022 All-Source RFP which seeks additional generation and capacity resources consistent with its 2021 IRP, including about 800 MW of wind, about 500 MW of solar and supplemental capacity resources. To view and download the RFP Documents, please navigate to the Documents section of the RFP website located at www.IMAllSourceRFP.com. Questions regarding this RFP should be emailed to I&M2022RFP@aep.com with cc to IMAllSourceRFP@CRAI.com. CRA will post a list of the non-confidential “Questions and Answers” to its website on a weekly basis following the issuance of the RFP until the Proposal Due Date. Proposals are due April 21.

To meet customer demand for the voluntary green pricing program (MIGreenPower), DTE is issuing an RFP for new wind and solar projects, both with and without energy storage. The projects must be ready to achieve commercial operation in 2023, be located in Michigan, and be interconnected to MISO or distribution level transmission. Anyone who is interested should register their company information on the Power Advocate website at this link for solar projects and/or this link for wind projects. DTE will be accepting proposals through April 29.

EGLE Energy Services is offering $250,000 in grants to small manufacturers in Michigan to implement energy efficiency activities that can be completed by Aug. 31, 2022, with a maximum grant for $25,000 per manufacturer. Application deadline is April 30.

American Electric Power (AEP) is issuing an RFP that “seeks up to 800 MW of Wind resources, 500 MW of Solar resources, and other qualified capacity resources from thermal, standalone storage, emerging technologies, and other capacity resources.”

AEP subsidiary Indiana Michigan Power identified the need for supply-side generation in its RFP. Consumers Energy has released draft materials for its RFP that will solicit solar and wind generation projects in accordance with the company’s expansion of its Voluntary Green Pricing Program. This RFP will be administered by Enel X, affiliated with Michigan EIBC member Enel Green Power. According to the RFP administrator, “questions pertaining to this RFP or the proposal submittal process can be sent via email to Enel X by way of VGPRFP@enel.com. In the event others within your organization did not receive this notice and are interested in being added to the RFP listserv, please send a request via email to VGPRFP@enel.com with contact details for those to be added.” Final proposals are due May 31.

The Community Collaboration on Climate Change (C4) is seeking a full-time contract position to provide coordination of C4 leadership, organizational representatives, Grand Rapids residents, and the program deliverables. State of Michigan DNR is going big in solar with projects in the ground, others in development and additional ones being planned. DNR has released a Request for Proposal for Prequalification Program for Renewable Energy PPAs: www.michigan.gov/sigmavss. Use “Guest Access” to get the RFP. A previous round of pre-qualifications netted solar companies that then were able to bid on a portfolio of DNR solar projects in Southwest Michigan. Another portfolio in the Northern Region is in the works for later this year. Only companies who pre-qualify can bid on future DNR solar projects. Please direct all correspondence to the Solicitation Manager, Laura Gyorkos at gyorkosL@michigan.gov.

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.

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