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January 21, 2024

Newsletter: 2024 Policy Priorities

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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’s Policy Priorities for 2024

    While 2023 heralded numerous successes and new policies, Michigan EIBC and our members are entering 2024 with a renewed determination and the knowledge that there is a lot more to accomplish. In light of this, we wanted to elevate some of the policy efforts Michigan EIBC plans to focus on in 2024. 

    First, work is already underway at the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to implement the clean energy legislation enacted last November including to establish a new process to permit utility-scale wind, solar, and storage projects. The MPSC will also need to establish processes to implement the new energy storage mandate, reestablish utility renewable energy plan cases and conduct a study of long duration storage. Michigan EIBC will also support the implementation of the new energy efficiency standards and the development of new electrification plans by the utilities.

    Second, while the sweeping energy legislation reforms took massive steps to further the advanced energy industry as a whole and decarbonize Michigan’s grid, it left gaps to be filled in direct cost-savings and outage protection efforts. Namely, community solar legislation (HB 4464/4465 and SB 152/153) remains a priority of both the industry at large and a number of Michigan legislators (see the newsletter item below for more about community solar as a priority in Lansing this year).

    Furthering this same objective, Michigan EIBC will work in 2024 to provide financial incentives to low and middle income families for behind-the-meter storage and solar systems (such as through HB 4839/4840). Michigan EIBC is also exploring legislation to allow for islanding and microgrids, unlocking the full potential of distributed systems. Finally, Michigan EIBC supports removing unfair and burdensome restrictions by homeowner and condo associations on rooftop solar, energy efficiency and electric vehicle charging equipment. Removing these unfounded restrictions will provide greater access to cost-saving measures for many Michigan homeowners. 

    Third, mobility and transportation electrification will be a focus for Michigan EIBC in 2024. In partnership with Clean Fuels Michigan, Michigan EIBC is developing a transportation electrification policy roadmap, which will serve as a guide for policymakers interested in supporting the buildout of charging infrastructure, removing barriers to EV adoption and fleet electrification and streamlining Michigan’s mobility transition writ large. Amongst these policies is likely to be the establishment of a clean fuel standard (as in SB 275 and HB 5083), which Michigan EIBC has actively supported with a broad coalition of stakeholders. Such measures have been successful in other states to bolster advanced fuel markets, leading to increased investment and faster transitions to cleaner transportation. 

    Fourth, Michigan EIBC looks forward to continuing the work to decarbonize Michigan’s homes and buildings in 2024. The state is expected to finish updating Michigan’s 2021 energy conservation building code, which will ensure that new homes and buildings in the state are energy efficient. In addition, Michigan EIBC hopes to advocate for electric vehicle readiness, building electrification readiness, solar readiness, storage readiness, and additional improvements in the Michigan update to the 2024 model code. Michigan EIBC also plans to work closely with the state to implement federal funding, including the Home Energy Rebates. In addition, Michigan EIBC has already begun to advocate for important electric vehicle, energy efficiency, building electrification and renewable energy recommendations in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

    Finally, Michigan EIBC is working to build support for the Long-Range Transmission Plan (LRTP) Tranche 1 projects in Michigan. With an estimated investment of $850 million, these Michigan projects are designed to improve grid reliability and resiliency, support the state’s economic development efforts and help meet state decarbonization goals. Work is already underway to coordinate a positive communications strategy in anticipation of the regulatory cases at the MPSC and Michigan EIBC will also likely be involved in these cases when they are filed in mid-2024.

    Key Lansing Energy Issues for 2024 Taking Shape

    Bridge Michigan recently published a look at some of the most significant energy issues that could be taken by the Michigan legislature this year, and the piece interviewed Michigan EIBC Director of Policy Justin Carpenter about community solar.

    The “key energy issues still awaiting action in Lansing” according to Bridge include community solar, utility donations to build influence and improving reliability. 

    Community solar advocates want to see lawmakers take up bills that would create a legal path forward for community solar projects that allow subscribers to cut their utility bills, Bridge reported. Community solar is a “fantastic way to reduce energy costs for neighborhoods,” Carpenter was quoted as saying.

    The bills, which have been and continue to be strongly supported by Michigan EIBC, are SB 152/153 and HB 4464/4465.


    New Member

    Bird Dog Development, LLC
    Bird Dog Development, LLC (“Bird Dog”) is a renewable energy development company focused on helping owner/operators of utility-scale wind farms (and other generators) to maximize the value of their associated interconnection rights through the addition of solar and/or storage via the surplus interconnection process.

    Michigan Energy News

    • Michigan’s aging grid and “inefficient practices by utilities to maintain the grid leave Michiganders more exposed to outages from weather events” than people in other states, Citizens Utility Board of Michigan Executive Director Amy Bandyk is quoted as saying in a Planet Detroit article.
    • The MPSC orders DTE and Consumers Energy to take steps to improve communication during outages.
    • The Michigan Department of Transportation receives a $1.8 million federal grant to replace broken EV chargers around the state.
    • The city of Dearborn enrolls in DTE’s MIGreenPower program.
    • A Mid-Michigan news station reports on the impact of federal funding for new electric school buses in Flint.
    • Net Hydrogen’s project to build an electrolyzer factory to produce green hydrogen receives an award for hydrogen energy deal of the year.
    • WILX in Lansing reports on how EV drivers have been successfully using their vehicles throughout a harsh winter without significant reduction in range.

    National Energy News

    • An RMI analysis finds that estimates of the costs of the clean energy transition do not fully account for savings from a decrease in spending on fossil fuels.
    • Energy storage developer Plus Power says its newly-operational 565-MWh battery facility on Oahu, Hawaii, represents the “first time a battery has been used by a major utility to balance the grid: providing fast frequency response, synthetic inertia, and black start,” Utility Dive reports.
    • The National Renewable Energy Laboratory projects that U.S. gas-fired capacity will rise through 2050 even in a scenario where carbon emissions are cut by 95%.
    • The Biden administration announces 47 grant recipients of EV charging and alternative fuel infrastructure projects.
    • New York state utilities are planning pilot projects to replace gas pipelines with heat pump-powered thermal networks.
    • Catalyst Power introduces demand response programs for commercial and industrial customers in New York.

    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.

    Advanced Energy United

    Policy Director – Decision Maker Education & Engagement – Central. Location: Remote.

    Advanced Energy United is currently seeking an experienced, strategic and innovative Director to focus on decision maker education and engagement in central states. The Director will work with other United team members to develop and implement educational strategies designed to achieve policy successes at the state level that will expand markets for the advanced energy industry and accelerate the U.S. transition to 100% clean energy.

    Policy Director – Decision Maker Education & Engagement – West. Location: Remote.

    Advanced Energy United is currently seeking an experienced, strategic and innovative Director to focus on decision maker education and engagement in western states. The Director will work with other United team members to develop and implement educational strategies designed to achieve policy successes at the state level that will expand markets for the advanced energy industry and accelerate the U.S. transition to 100% clean energy. 

    Elevate

    Director, Community Programs (MI).

    The Director, Community Programs leads and manages Elevate’s Community Programs team in Michigan. The Director is responsible for implementing programs in partnership with community organizations, municipalities, and state agencies related to affordable housing and resilient communities, with an emphasis on building decarbonization – energy and water efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy. The Director, Community Programs collaborates with departments across the organization as well as with key partner organizations. The Director leads strategic planning, resourcing and process improvement on this fast-growing team.

    Opportunities

    The Detroit Area Advocacy Organizations are seeking a qualified and experienced partner to oversee the management, disbursement, and evaluation of $8 million in settlement funds related to DTE Energy’s 2022 Integrated Resource Plan. A Request for Proposals from potential partners is available, and the deadline for submissions is Jan. 19.

    The Gerald R. Ford International Airport has posted a request for qualifications (RFQ) to design and install an approximately 100-kW solar PV and battery system. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 31.

    The City of Detroit is soliciting proposals from qualified solar providers to design, engineer, build, operate, maintain, and decommission installations of ground-mount solar PV projects. Proposals are due Feb. 15.

    The MPSC has released a request for proposals for a $21.3 million renewable energy and electrification infrastructure enhancement and development grant program. Applications are due Feb. 21. 

    The U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office has announced a $38 million funding opportunity focused on cross-sector technologies for industrial decarbonization. Applications are due March 20. Learn more here.

    The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has several open grant applications related to energy efficiency for businesses, local governments, tribal governments and farmers, as well as support for public, private, or nonprofit entities for deploying publicly available fast-charging electric vehicle stations along the Lake Michigan Circuit. These applications have various deadlines from January to March of 2024. Find more information here.