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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:

Read Michigan EIBC’s Grace Michienzi in Crain’s Detroit Business

Michigan EIBC’s Senior Director of Policy Grace Michienzi has been a strong voice for the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to adopt new building codes that reflect the strongest possible improvements in energy efficiency from the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Now, in a new article from Crain’s Detroit Business, she defends the proposed changes to building codes against home builders who are claiming the changes are too expensive.

“It simply doesn’t make sense to make big investments in new housing in the state if we’re not thinking about affordability long-term,” Michienzi was quoted as saying in the article.

Regarding the code changes under consideration by LARA, Michienzi also cited a U.S. Department of Energy study that found that the proposed code changes could lead to a 10.7% improvement in energy efficiency compared to the codes Michigan has in place, representing annual utility savings of $327 for the homeowner,

Read the whole article here.

Source: Clean Economy Tracker.

Clean Economy Tracker Tool Released to Show Geography of Clean Energy Investment

Atlas Public Policy and Utah State University have just released an online tool described as a “one-stop shop” for information about the size and geography of private investment and job growth for clean energy-related manufacturing facilities and innovative projects.

The tool, the Clean Economy Tracker (CET), collects data on new manufacturing facilities, non-manufacturing, commercial scale deployment projects and related jobs being added across the country in the sectors of batteries, critical mineral production and processing, electric vehicles, heat pumps, hydrogen electrolyzers, transmission and grid materials, and zero-emissions electricity generation.

The tool generates maps that allow users to find interesting facts about clean energy project development, such as which congressional districts are home to the most investment.

Nationwide, the CET tracks 79 manufacturing facilities with 25,000 announced jobs at $14 billion investment. In addition to manufacturing data, the CET also tracks demonstration projects supported by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Convening On Solar Panel Recycling Held in Lansing on March 26

Thank you to all who joined us for our Cross-Sector Convening on the Recycling and Reuse of PV Solar Panels, held by Michigan EIBC, the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE). Recent changes in Michigan policy are making the state more attractive for solar and panels are rapidly becoming cheaper, leading to end-of-life questions about the growing number of installations. Thank you to Dr. Annick Anctil for an insightful presentation, and Dr. John Kinch, Tyler Kanczuzewski, and Diane Van Buren for an engaging discussion on this important topic.

This event featured the following speakers:

Dr. Annick Anctil, Associate Professor Civil & Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University
Dr. John Kinch, Executive Director, Michigan EIBC member Michigan Energy Options
Tyler Kanczuzewski, Vice President of Sustainability, Michigan EIBC member Inovateus Solar
Diane Van Buren, Founder, Michigan EIBC member D2 Solar

Michienzi Elected to Board of Midwest Renewable Energy Association

Congratulations to Michigan EIBC Senior Director of Policy Grace Michienzi, who was recently elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA).

MREA, based in Custer, Wisc., promotes renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable living through education and demonstration.

Mainstage Panel Announced for the 12th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference in East Lansing on April 24

Registration is open for Michigan EIBC’s most popular event of the year! Our 12th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference will be held April 24 at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing. Get your tickets now!

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

We have announced one of the mainstage panels:

We have also announced several breakout panels for the conference:

We have also announced the keynote speaker:

Paula R. Glover is the President of the Alliance to Save Energy, a bipartisan, nonprofit coalition that promotes federal energy efficiency policy. Throughout her tenure, she has played a crucial role in advancing key policies such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act while securing billions in federal funding for energy efficiency programs. Ms. Glover has also expanded the Alliance’s focus on energy justice and the development of next-generation technologies through the Active Efficiency Collaborative and the Energy 2040 Initiative. Before her tenure at the Alliance, Ms. Glover acted as President and CEO of the American Association of Blacks in Energy, advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in energy policy discussions. Additionally, she serves on the boards of Talos Energy, the Keystone Policy Center, Clean Energy Works, and Resources for the Future, as well as holding a position on the National Petroleum Council since 2014 and acting as Trustee for Cardigan Mountain School. With 25 years of experience, Ms. Glover is passionate about realizing an energy-efficient future by leading the Alliance to Save Energy and its diverse political, corporate, and academic membership.

Thank you sponsors!

TETRAWATT

GIGAWATT

MEGAWATT

KILOWATT

THE WATT

Michigan Energy News

“We know Michigan residents want more clean energy and installing solar panels with a back-up battery is a smart way to do just that,” Michigan EIBC President Laura Sherman is quoted as saying about the recently-introduced behind-the-meter storage bills in a report from The ‘Gander.
Holtec is to receive a $1.5 billion loan to restart the shuttered Palisades nuclear plant.
Consumers Energy announces it will begin construction on the Muskegon Solar Energy Center in April.
DTE plans to file for a rate increase that would come into effect in January 2025.

National Energy News

The U.S. Departments of Energy and Labor announce the release of the Battery Workforce Initiative (BWI)’s National Guideline Standards for registered apprenticeships for battery machine operators, which lay out training requirements for workers in EV battery manufacturing.
New York state regulators up the estimated cost for plans to add 6 GW of battery storage by 2030 from $1.7 billion to $2 billion.
A hot and dry winter has led to a particularly early wildfire season in the Midwest.
St. Paul Public Schools in Minnesota has adopted geothermal systems to slash emissions from its buildings.

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

Summer Intern. Location: Remote.

5 Lakes Energy is looking for flexible and self-motivated interns at the advanced undergraduate or graduate level interested in climate and energy policy. 5LE’s work is rooted in quantitative analysis, and applicants should expect that most projects will require some degree of technical analysis, with Excel as our primary analytical tool.

This year, 5LE is offering 3 opportunities –

Building a Year-long Hourly Power Demand Forecast to Support Widespread Electrification of Michigan’s Manufacturers mentored by Elizabeth Boatman, Ph.D., Consultant
Public Sector Clean Energy Research Assistant mentored by Rick Bunch, Senior Consultant
Developing a Python-based Integrated Resource Planning Model mentored by Eli Gold, Senior Consultant

To learn more about these opportunities and to apply, please review the information in this document.

Elevate

Project Manager, Community Consulting (MI). Location: Michigan/Remote.

The Project Manager, Community Consulting supports municipalities and community-based organizations applying for federal funding; assisting with strategic planning, grant writing, fund development and community engagement planning. The Project Manager maintains client relationships and assists with program development for initiatives related to sustainable communities with an emphasis on affordable housing and energy and water efficiency, renewable energy, decarbonization and community resilience. Projects focus on providing technical assistance to communities to help them achieve their sustainability goals by identifying funding opportunities, connecting them to technical resources, and providing expertise in policy and program design centered on equity, economic inclusion, and community and stakeholder engagement. This position requires experience with community engagement best practices and grant writing and/or grant management. The Project Manager, Community Consulting collaborates with others in the National Strategic Engagement team and with core service departments of Elevate, as well as our national partner organizations.
The Project Manager reports directly to the Senior Director, Community Consulting. The position is located in Michigan. This position is currently fully remote with travel as needed.

Michigan and National Energy Events

From March 20 to April 24, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is hosting a number of virtual and in-person listening sessions regarding the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Rebate (HER) Program. Registration is requested for planning purposes. Visit the HER Program website for more information.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is holding a webinar on April 2 to educate residents interested in solar, contractors, manufacturers, local governments or community-based organizations about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Solar for All Competition and how it may impact communities across Michigan. Find out more here.

Michigan EIBC’s 12th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference will be held April 24 at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing. Get your tickets now!

Join Michigan EGLE for the 2024 Michigan Healthy Climate Conference at the Lansing Center on May 16-17. Register here.

Opportunities

Michigan EIBC member Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Tech has launched the MI Climate Wise Business Program. Through this new initiative, Centrepolis’s project partner Fresh Coast Climate Solutions is offering complimentary technical assistance to small and medium sized businesses located in southeast Michigan. Selected applicants will advance sustainability and climate-related goals across one or more of the following areas: Climate + Sustainability Readiness, ESG Program Development, Alternative Materials and Reduction, Solution Implementation and Electrification. Learn more by visiting the program website, and completing this application form. Candidates are being evaluated in March, with selections
made on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.

Michigan EGLE is launching the Renewables Ready Communities Award (RRCA), which makes Michigan municipalities that have, on or after October 1, 2023, begun physically hosting and performing local permitting for any portion of an eligible renewable energy project eligible for awards of $5,000 per MW. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until Sept. 30. More information on this opportunity can be found on the RRCA Webpage.

The Michigan Public Service Commission has created a website tracking its progress implementing Public Acts 229, 231, 233, 234, and 235, passed on Nov. 8, 2023 and signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer on Nov. 28.

The MPSC has posted for public review all the applications it has received in response to a request for proposals for funding through a renewable energy and electrification infrastructure enhancement and development grant program. The final deadline for proposals is April 29.

Invest In Our Future is hiring for several positions, including a Program Manager with regional connections in the Midwest.

Climate Power is hiring a Michigan States Desk temporary position. This is a remote, temporary position to support work through the election cycle “to drive the narrative on how the Inflation Reduction Act and the clean energy boom are benefiting residents.” Find out more here.

Michigan 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.

On April 9, DTE is tentatively planning to issue an All Source Renewable Energy RFP. Email All_Source_Renewables_RFP_Account@dteenergy.com for more information.

The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a funding opportunity announcement for grants to “fund research, development, and prototype or pilot scale technology validation and demonstration activities that will accelerate the development and adoption of sustainable technologies that increase efficiency and eliminate industrial GHG emissions for the most energy- and emissions- intensive industrial subsectors.” The deadline is June 11. Learn more here,

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