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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:
Source: ABC News
Biden Signs Inflation Reduction Act and New Analysis Estimates Benefits
This week was a historic one for advanced energy as President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law. At the same time, more details are coming out about just how much the law will change energy in Michigan and the rest of the country.
The Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credits will create “…tens of thousands of good-paying jobs and clean energy manufacturing jobs, solar factories in the Midwest and the South, wind farms across the plains and off our shores, clean hydrogen projects and more — all across America, every part of America,” President Biden said in his speech as he signed the bill.
An analysis from Michigan EIBC National Associate Member Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) breaks down the estimated economic impact from the bill, combined with the Infrastructure Investment and Job Act (IIJA) passed in 2021. The $444 billion in federal investment from the two laws combined will lead to $2.8 trillion in total incremental economic activity, a six-fold return on investment, AEE found.
For Michigan specifically, $16 billion in federal investment translates to $142 billion in economic impact, leading to $6.7 billion in savings for consumers per year, primarily from reducing utility bills and transportation costs, creating jobs and increasing tax collections, AEE estimates.
Read our previous newsletter for more details about specific provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Michigan EIBC Calls for Better Use of Funds for Weatherization
The state of Michigan should take advantage of a forthcoming windfall in federal investment for weatherization by increasing the amount of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that goes toward helping Michigan residents make their homes more energy efficient, Michigan EIBC argued in comments recently submitted to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).
In the most recent year, only 3% of Michigan’s federal LIHEAP funds were allocated for weatherization purposes, significantly lower than the 15% allocation used by many other states around the country. “As a result of Michigan’s historically low allocation of federal funding to LIHEAP, fewer weatherization projects have been completed,” our comments said.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is expected to fund Michigan’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) with $183 million over the next 5-year grant cycle, one of the largest allocations in the country. But this funding also must be used before the cycle is up or it is lost. WAP funds have a monetary project ceiling limit that makes it difficult to use the funds for larger projects or to attract contractors in a competitive market. Dollars from LIHEAP, however, can be used to supplement WAP dollars to make more weatherization projects possible.
Michigan EIBC’s comments called for DHHS to increase the amount of LIHEAP allocated for weatherization from 7% to 15% in the State LIHEAP Plan for fiscal year 2023. “Doing so will ensure that Michigan is able to better utilize the entirety of its federal WAP allocation, reducing referrals and weatherizing more homes in the state, which will help to reduce energy burden,” the comments said.
Michigan EIBC Is Hiring: Energy Policy Expert
The Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (Michigan EIBC) and Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI) are hiring a full-time energy policy expert.
The chosen candidate’s policy portfolio may include:
- Development of legislative strategy and policies in collaboration with policy team
- Legislative advocacy including meetings with legislators and partners
- Support of advanced energy sector-specific initiatives including research and report writing
- Support of regulatory policy efforts at the Michigan Public Service Commission
- Support of advanced energy sector-specific initiatives, including research and report writing
- Communication and collaboration with members of the advanced energy industry
- Support of sector-specific initiatives and events in collaboration with team
Please click here to learn more about the position and how to apply.
Tickets On Sale for 10th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Gala
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available for the 10th Annual Energy Innovators Gala on Sept. 28 at The Eastern in Detroit! Get your tickets now! Please click here for more sponsorship details and contact Brianna Gerard at brianna@mieibc.org with any questions.
Tentative Timeline
5:00 pm | Cocktail hour + Networking (open bar + food trucks serving)
5:30 pm | VIP reception (open bar + food trucks serving)
6:00 pm | Keynote Speaker + Awards Program
7:30 pm | Continued Networking + Dessert & Coffee/Tea Bar
8:00 pm | Event Concludes
The Gala’s keynote speaker will be State of Michigan Treasurer Rachael Eubanks. Eubanks was appointed as Michigan’s 47th State Treasurer by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in January of 2019. She is committed to bringing creativity, collaboration, and commitment to identify and implement solutions to some of Michigan’s greatest challenges. She does this while also building upon Treasury’s culture of service to Michiganders, through continuous improvement and employee engagement, which are the foundation of Treasury’s mission to provide fair and efficient financial services on behalf of taxpayers, governments, students, and all Michiganders, for the long-term fiscal health and stability of our state. In 2016 she was appointed by Governor Rick Snyder (and reappointed in 2017) to serve on the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) as a utility regulatory commissioner. In that capacity she reviewed and voted on hundreds of orders that helped shape Michigan’s energy future. In particular, the Commission had regulatory oversight over the implementation of two comprehensive energy law changes during her tenure. She served on several national organizations, including being elected as Vice President to the Organization of PJM States, Inc., and was on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, where she was Chair of the Supplier and Workforce Development Subcommittee.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Gigawatt
Megawatt
Kilowatt
The Watt
New Member
Convergent Energy + Power (Convergent) is a leading provider of energy storage solutions in North America. Convergent has over a decade of experience financing and managing all aspects of the energy storage development cycle to help customers reduce electricity costs and increase reliability. The company’s commercial, industrial, and utility-scale assets can yield seven-figure savings while advancing the clean energy transition. Convergent’s proprietary asset management platform, PEAK IQ® leverages machine learning and deep market knowledge to optimize asset performance and maximize value. With over $400M invested in projects in operation or allocated to projects under development, Convergent is a leading independent owner and operator of energy storage and solar-plus-storage solutions.
Renewing Members
Advanced Energy Storage LLC
Advanced Energy Storage, LLC has invented, developed and engineered an innovative energy storage and management system to: (1) provide sustainable critical power for infrastructure during emergency electrical grid outages, (2) manage peak load energy demand to lower utility costs for businesses and (3) serve as backup power to increase efficiency and output of other energy sources (e.g., hydroelectric, wind). The energy system is a mid-density, environmentally “green”, highly efficient and superior storage solution compared to lithium-ion and other chemical based battery storage systems. Our Power Pack Energy System, which is primarily used for emergency and back-up power applications, is uniquely designed as a scalable 20’ x 8’ battery unit. The Base Power Pack energy system stores 100kW hours of energy. The Standard Power Pack energy unit contains a wind turbine with a telescoping tower that when deployed can recharge the system in approximately 6 to 14 hours (depending on average wind speed) and can make the system fully sustainable off the grid. In addition, the Standard unit’s roof contains a bank of solar panels used to power the control panel lights, security system and the electronic controls inside the battery unit in the event the unit needs to be awakened and deployed from a fully discharged state. Its weight (approximately 34,000 lbs makes it air transportable using any one of 3 heavy lift commercial helicopters available in the US.
As one of the leading providers of products and services for the charging process of electric vehicles, we offer a range covering all aspects of electromobility – from individual components through to complete fleet management. Your advantages An extensive range for the charging process of electric vehicles Standard-compliant AC and DC charging systems for worldwide application Expertise in fast charging technology with the Combined Charging System (CCS) Consistent solutions from vehicle interface up to the IT and network level Special solutions for electric vehicles, electric buses, and bicycles.
Michigan Energy News
- An ad campaign from Evergreen Collaborative highlights Gov. Whitmer’s accomplishments on policies toward EVs.
- The Inflation Reduction Act will “surge clean energy production, lowering gas prices, reducing our reliance on foreign oil, and creating millions of manufacturing and energy jobs along the way. Getting this done will fight climate change and protect our precious natural resources—including our Great Lakes,” Gov. Whitmer says in a statement about the passage of the bill.
- Consumers Energy says it has used computer modeling, machine learning and other techniques to improve its response to outages during severe storms after last summer.
- DTE says it is ready if as much as 20% of its customers were to switch to EVs, but others are skeptical that enough has been done to prepare grid infrastructure for the influx of EV users.
- In a win for Enbridge, a U.S. District Court judge rules that the state of Michigan’s lawsuit over the LIne 5 pipeline will be heard in federal court.
National Energy News
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposes keeping the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant online for several more years through a $1.4 billion loan to plant operator Pacific Gas & Electric.
- Bill Gates-funded advanced nuclear reactor developer TerraPower has no fuel source after losing access to a Russian supplier.
- The U.S. Department of Justice tells FERC that it should reject a proposal to reinstate a federal right of first refusal for incumbent transmission utilities.
- Interest in financing home solar installations is growing among smaller, regional banks and credit unions.
- Lower-income Californians trying to access programs to help them afford EVs are dealing with long waiting lists and other hurdles.
- New Jersey, the first state to require K-12 climate education, is implementing new educational approaches to teaching about climate change.
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.
Michigan and National Energy Events
The Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University invites you to attend the C3 Summit, a showcase of Cleantech, Climatech & Circular Economy Technology Companies and Leaders. This event will feature a pitch competition from cleantech companies, to be judged by a panel that includes Liesl Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). Being held in Lathrup Village in Metro Detroit onAug. 25, the Showcase is open for registration here.
The 10th Annual Energy Innovators Gala will be held on Sept. 28 at The Eastern in Detroit. Get tickets here.
The Detroit 2030 District is hosting the 2030 Districts Network International Summit in Detroit on October 4-6. Register here.
Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) announced the Advancing Equity Through Workforce Partnerships funding opportunity, “which will award $10 million for the development of collaborative workforce programs that will facilitate the rapid deployment of solar energy technologies while supporting an inclusive workforce with opportunities for union membership.” Applicants must file a mandatory letter of intent by Sept. 13.
The DOE issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the $750 million Advanced Energy Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Program. The program aims to support manufacturers to produce clean energy products or deploy emissions reduction equipment at facilities in coal communities. RFI responses are due Sept. 16.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Community Geothermal Heating and Cooling Design and Deployment Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) will award $300,000–$13 million for “projects that help communities design and deploy geothermal district heating and cooling systems, create related workforce training, and identify and address environmental justice concerns.” The application deadline is Oct. 11.
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.
Aaron Kurz, a former Michigan EIBC intern and University of Michigan alum, is working to build a state-level Science Policy Fellowship in Michigan, the Michigan Initiative for Science Policy (MISP). This program will place five recent STEM PhD recipients throughout the Michigan state government to provide a source of non-partisan, evidence-based information to decision makers. MISP will join the 10 other state programs throughout the country, including Idaho, Missouri, and New Jersey. Additional information about this initiative may be found at miscipol.org. If you are interested in providing written support for MISP, please contact Aaron at aaron.kurz@miscipol.org.