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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:
ITC Announces Major New Transmission Projects for Michigan
This Thursday, Michigan Electric Transmission Company (METC), a subsidiary of Michigan EIBC member ITC Holdings Corp., announces its intent to build what will be the first set of transmission line projects for Michigan under the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s (MISO) recently approved Long-Range Transmission Planning (LRTP) process.
The projects will consist of 110 miles of new 345-kV lines to be built from northern Indiana to a new ITC substation near Lansing, as well as new 345-kV lines extending west of Lansing to Gratiot County. METC will also upgrade 75 miles of existing transmission lines from Jackson County to Wayne County.
“ITC’s transformational and historic investment in Michigan… will enhance energy reliability while supporting thousands of jobs and providing a whopping $6 billion in economic benefit to communities across the state,” Gov. Whitmer said in ITC’s statement. “These investments are critical to the state as we transition towards a clean energy and electric vehicle future. Throughout my administration, I have had the privilege of working across the aisle and across the public and private sector to rebuild Michigan’s infrastructure and bring Michigan’s economy into the future. Let’s keep getting it done.”
The new transmission lines are part of the first tranche of projects under MISO’s LRTP, which will make up over 2,000 miles of lines across nine Midwestern states at a total cost of $10 billion. But MISO has estimated that the tranche will lead to nearly $70 billion in benefits, much of those benefits coming from lower power costs for customers driven by the new renewable energy projects that the transmission lines will allow to connect to the grid.
State Emphasizes Energy Jobs with Careers in Energy Week
On Oct. 17 Gov. Whitmer Issued a formal proclamation that this week is “Careers in Energy Week.” The Michigan Energy Workforce Development Consortium, a partnership of more than 50 representatives of industry, education, workforce, labor, government and veterans, is marking the week with a number of outreach initiatives to bring awareness to energy jobs.
“Michigan’s energy industry currently boasts nearly 116,000 jobs with total employment in the field projected to increase by 7.5% between 2020 and 2030, underscoring the vital need to increase the number of adults with a skill certificate or college degree to 60% by 2030 to meet the growing demand for high-skilled, high-demand talent in this industry and beyond,” the proclamation stated. “This industry is transforming energy generation to cleaner, greener and renewable generation technologies and infrastructure as older coal-fired generation facilities are retired over the next 10 years; and energy-efficiency and clean energy sources have become a priority for Michigan residents, businesses and governments.”
Among the outreach initiatives held this week are an event Lansing Community College to teach high schoolers about job opportunities for women in line work, a “reverse job fair” for middle schoolers to learn about the various careers offered at the Lansing Board of Water & Light and a Zoom call with Consumers Energy Vice President of Public Affairs Roger Curtis.
Next Monday: Building Decarbonization Convening in Lansing
There is still time to register for Michigan EIBC and IEI’s The Future of Building Decarbonization in Michigan public convening in Lansing on Oct. 24. Representatives from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) will discuss the implementation of building decarbonization initiatives as the State of Michigan aims to lower energy intensity in state buildings by 40% by 2040.
The convening will also feature a panel of industry experts to discuss the latest innovations in building electrification and efficiency. Please go here to register for this event.
New Member
C-PACE Alliance is a network of industry stakeholders committed to achieving Commercial PACE’s potential in energy efficiency, life-safety conditions, economic competitiveness, and private investment. The C-PACE Alliance believes in the transformative power of C-PACE financing to reduce energy consumption and upgrade the quality of commercial, industrial and multifamily apartment buildings. We believe that C-PACE financing should be easy-to-use and low-cost so that the greatest number of property owners can complete their building improvements.
Renewing Member
At Energy Sciences, our mission is to provide energy consulting services with the utmost integrity, to practice sustainable measures and to be socially responsible for the benefit of our clients, the environment and all living things. We achieve this by collaborating with commercial, industrial and municipal clients to find practical solutions that reduce energy waste and increase profitability. Taking a strategic and comprehensive approach to energy management and sustainability, we help businesses, governments and utilities optimize the way they use energy and other resources by putting in place sustainable best practices that produce measurable results year after year. Our team of degreed and licensed engineers, scientists, certified energy auditors, energy managers and lighting efficiency professionals offers a wide-reaching array of skills to meet the energy use challenges of the most exacting buildings, building systems and industrial processes. From energy procurement to the operation of buildings and industrial process equipment, Energy Sciences helps clients identify and eliminate waste and increase their energy effectiveness. Energy Sciences was founded by former automotive and utility industry professionals, Shelley Sullivan and Frank Schulmeister, who took to heart the business philosophies of Total Quality Management, Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence. These philosophies undergird everything we do at Energy Sciences and led to the development of the Energy Sciences SiStemTM—a considered and intentional energy management process for success. Contact us to learn more about the ES SiStemTM and how it can help you improve the profitability of your business by reducing your energy waste.
Michigan Energy News
- Gov. Whitmer joins Michigan EIBC member Our Next Energy for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the company’s new headquarters in Novi.
- U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi also toured Our Next Energy in Novi, saying “some of what I am seeing today is the transformation from the hard science to the consumer product and keeping America No. 1.”
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency joins with the Michigan Climate Action Network (MiCAN) and the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) to recommend that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers assess alternatives to the Line 5 tunnel.
- The U.S. Department of Justice recently proposed that Enbridge need not perform some in-line inspections of Line 5 for at least 15 years.
- 7-Eleven signs up for DTE’s MIGreenPower voluntary green pricing program so it can achieve 100% renewable energy for all 160 of its southeast Michigan locations for 20 years beginning in 2025.
- Michigan is in the running for the possible location of the next Stellantis EV battery plant.
National Energy News
- Renewable energy developers, including Michigan EIBC members NextEra Energy and Invenergy, tell FERC that its proposed reforms to interconnection rules need to go much farther if they are going to clear up the massive backlog of interconnection requests that is delaying projects.
- Some industry insiders worry that the performance bar for heat pumps to qualify for the up-to- $2,000 tax credit in the Inflation Reduction Act is so high that few heat pump projects will be able to receive the credit.
- A Brooklyn neighborhood is hoping to revitalize dormant waterfront property with plans for a staging area for offshore wind projects that will employ local residents.
- Louisiana utility Cleco wants to add carbon capture technology to a petroleum coke and coal-burning power plant unit, but doing so could increase the plant’s water usage by 55%.
- Xcel Energy wants to own and operate microgrids for commercial and nonprofit customers, but groups are cautioning Minnesota regulators that Xcel may use its monopoly power to unfairly boost its competitive advantage in the market for resiliency.
- Prices for renewable energy power purchase agreements have increased rapidly but this year, but renewables remain a particularly affordable form of energy because the prices of other sources have gone up even faster.
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.
5 Lakes Energy
Consultant or Senior Consultant
5 Lakes Energy is hiring a Consultant or Senior Consultant (depending on relevant experience and skills) to help advance clean energy policy in the Midwest. As a small, well-respected firm with broad expertise and a range of sought-after practice areas, the Consultant should expect to work on a wide variety of projects in the effort to mitigate climate change and accelerate the clean energy transition, with a focus on analytical modeling to calculate social, economic, and environmental impacts of policies in the energy sector and to move electric utilities to fully decarbonized but reliable and affordable power supply. 5 Lakes Energy works consistently in Michigan but also engages elsewhere across the Midwest and the US.
5 Lakes Energy
5 Lakes Energy is hiring an Expert Consultant to help advance clean energy policy in the Midwest. As a small, well-respected firm with broad expertise and a range of sought-after practice areas, the Expert Consultant should expect to work on a wide variety of projects in the effort to mitigate climate change and accelerate the clean energy transition, with a focus on providing expert advice and testimony in the areas of electric utility cost-of-service and rate design, particularly in relation to the use of clean energy technologies, such as distributed generation, energy storage, heat pumps, and electric vehicles. 5 Lakes Energy works consistently in Michigan but also engages elsewhere across the Midwest and the US.
Madison Energy Investments
Finance Analyst — Renewable Energy. Location: Vienna, Va., or New York City
Madison Energy Investments is a high-growth, PE-backed renewable energy company with investments in Solar, Battery and Electric Vehicle infrastructure.Madison is seeking a full-time Finance Analyst to work on our renewable energy investments. Candidates should have a passion for systematically managing cash flows of a business, general knowledge of accounting principles and ability to work cross functionally with team members in Sales, Accounting and Operations.
Michigan and National Energy Events
Join us on Oct. 24 for a public convening in Lansing, The Future of Building Decarbonization in Michigan, to discuss the landscape for energy efficiency and building electrification in Michigan. This event will include a presentation from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy on next steps toward implementation of the building decarbonization goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan and a panel featuring industry and policy experts in energy efficiency and electrification. The optional, space-limited tour of the Capitol Geothermal Project is now full, but attendees can join a wait list at the event. Register here.
Michigan EIBC member Mutually Human invites you to learn about the latest in digital transformation, then relax with a beer and snacks on the private rooftop patio at Founders Brewing Centennial Room in Grand Rapids. Come by any time from 3-6 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 26, and chat about what’s new in the world of Workforce Transformation, Intelligent Automation, Data Analytics, and Custom Software! Register Here.
Opportunities
The Charitable Foundation for the Energy Bar Association (CFEBA) is accepting applications for grants through Oct. 28. Only grant proposals to support local, regional, national or international non-profit organizations with energy-related charitable projects focused on improving lives will be considered for a financial grant. Up to $50,000 in total grant funds are available. For more information about the CFEBA grant process, visit the CFEBA website.
Consumers Energy has developed a draft RFP to solicit up to 700 Zonal Resource Credits (“ZRCs”) of capacity and associated energy and renewable energy credits (“RECs”), if applicable, starting on May 31, 2025. Find the draft RFP documents here. Notices of intent are due Oct. 21.
The MPSC has issued a request for proposals (RFP) for Low-Carbon Energy Infrastructure Enhancement and Development Grants. Public Act 53 and Public Act 166 of 2022, approved by the Michigan Legislature and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, provide for a combined $50 million in grants for businesses, nonprofit organizations and local governments to develop, acquire or build low-carbon energy facilities that may include natural gas, combined heat and power or renewable natural gas facilities as well as electrification programs. The RFP can be found on the Low Carbon EIED Grants webpage, which also includes a detailed timeline for submitting applications and opportunities to seek clarification on the RFP in October and November. Potential applicants may submit clarifying questions on the RFP in two rounds, first by Oct. 21, 2022, with responses due by Nov. 4, and second by Nov. 11, with responses due by Nov. 23.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development has released its guidelines for 2023 Rural Development Fund grants, which aim “to promote the sustainability of land-based industries and support infrastructure that benefits rural communities.” Proposals are due by Nov. 22.
This December, Enel X will be releasing the documents for an RFP from Consumers Energy in accordance with the company’s Proposed Course of Action in its Integrated Resource Plan. Questions pertaining to this RFP or the proposal submittal process can be sent via email to Enel X by way of CECIA.enelxnorthamerica@enel.com.
The Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) is soliciting an all-source Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking competitive proposals to supply up to 475 MW firm capacity to meet customer loads into the future and to meet the planning reserve requirements of the Mid-Continent Independent System Operator (MISO). RFP offers are due on Jan. 13, 2023. Registration to participate in this RFP is here.
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.