This newsletter was originally published on April 11, 2018.

Cypress Creek Renewables CEO Matt McGovern will Headline 6th Annual Member Meeting

Michigan EIBC is pleased to announce that Matt McGovern, co-founder and CEO of Michigan EIBC member company Cypress Creek Renewables, will speak at our 6th Annual Member Meeting on April 30 in Lansing. Matt will be joined by Liesl Clark on stage for an EIBC Power Chat: The Dynamic Michigan Solar Market in a National Context.

The event will also include panels on the following topics:

Renewable Energy Siting: Opportunities and Challenges in the Midwest

Behind the Scenes: Microgrids, Nanogrids, and Power Electronics

Grid Modernization: The Distribution System as a Platform for Innovation

Demand Destruction: Discussions on Energy Efficiency

The How, When, Where, and Why of Commercial and Residential Energy Storage

Driving Demand for Advanced Energy

Powering Mobility: The Convergence of Electricity and Mobility

Peering into the Crystal Ball: What the 2018 Election could mean for Energy Policy

Get your tickets today for this exciting event!

 

Michigan EIBC thanks our sponsors:

Event Sponsors

Megawatt Sponsors

  

 

Kilowatt Sponsors

   

 

Michigan Energy Stories

• Detroit Free Press Editor Brian Dickerson asks automakers “What happened to our deal on fuel economy?”
• Since 2003, Michigan’s electricity rates have seen 15 increases and 1 decrease.
• Grupo Bimbo, the largest bakery in the world, signed an agreement with Michigan EIBC member company Invenergy for 100% renewable energy for U.S. operations.
• DTE Energy signed leases on 22,000 acres of land for a proposed wind farm in Michigan’s Branch County. 
• DTE Energy appoints Joi Harris, former VP of gas operations, to oversee its new renewables plan.
• PV Magazine’s Christian Roselund says solar is “MIA” in DTE Energy’s new Renewable Energy Plan.
• A Detroit News column argues that renewables offer Michigan a stronger energy economy than natural gas. The column is in response to DTE Energy’s proposed natural gas plant.
• Environmental groups delivered DTE Energy 10,000 signatures in opposition to the utility’s proposed gas plant.
• Midwest grid operator MISO is not seeking federal support for coal and nuclear.
• Steve Rall of the Lansing Environmental Action Team says the Lansing BWL natural gas plan is too dirty and too expensive.

Michigan Energy Leaders

• Challenge Manufacturing earned a $232,000 energy rebate from Consumers Energy for completing LED lighting upgrades.

 

National Energy Stories

• The Trump administration announced new tariffs on Chinese imports of wind power and battery products, but the U.S. market impact is expected to be minimal.
• Apple announces its opposition to efforts to repeal the Clean Power Plan, saying it will cause “increased investment uncertainty” for the company.
• The Trump administration will talk with California state officials on vehicle emissions standards.
• Renewable-fuel groups warn that any restrictions on biofuel production “would be viewed as a declaration of war on rural America,” and a Los Angeles Times reporter says it could lead to bigger cars and higher emissions.
• Legislators and White House officials are calling on Trump to fire EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, but the president still supports him.
• Fifteen attorneys general and the city of Chicago are suing the EPA for “ignoring its legal duty” to regulate oil and gas emissions.
• President Donald Trump said his administration will consider providing emergency aid to FirstEnergy after the utility’s FirstEnergy Solutions unit filed for bankruptcy. Ohio regulators are seeking more information from a FirstEnergy subsidiary that is offering customer contracts for up to three years despite filing for bankruptcy. 
• An ISO New England report says rooftop solar and improved energy efficiency will reduce electricity usage in the next decade.
• Coal and natural gas are losing ground to renewable energy.

National Energy Leaders

• Alphabet became the largest corporate renewable energy buyer in America.
• Google reached its 100% renewable energy target in 2017 and will purchase another 3 GW of clean energy this year. 
• Grupo Bimbo, the largest bakery in the world, signed an agreement with Michigan EIBC member company Invenergy for 100% renewable energy for U.S. operations.

 

Michigan Energy Events
 
You’re invited to a Michigan Energy Workshop on Wednesday, April 25 from 9am to 12:00pm at the Governmental Center Training Room in Traverse City. This workshop is hosted by the City of Traverse City and SEEDS. Learn more and register here.
 
Michigan EIBC’s 6th Annual Member Meeting is scheduled for April 30. Register here.

Michigan EIBC’s member-only Lobby Day is May 1. Register here.
 
Michigan EIBC will host a Michigan Energy Forum on energy efficiency and lighting on June 11 at member company CLEAResult’s office in Detroit. Stay tuned for details!
 
On July 17-19, PlugVolt will be hosting its next Battery Seminar in Plymouth, Michigan (USA), featuring an entire day of in-depth training by EnerDelon Lithium Ion technology, alongside complementary industry updates by automotive and grid storage OEMs, global battery manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers. Attendees also get a tour of Intertek’s Battery Testing Center. Register here.
 
 
National Energy Events                                          
Midwest Energy Research Consortium (M-WERC) presents an event examining the trends and key issues driving energy efficiency in Wisconsin and surrounding states. Join M-WERC, our members, partners and invited guests on April 19 in Milwaukee to explore energy efficiency programs and technologies. Learn more and register to attend here!
 
Join solar & clean energy experts at the 5th annual Midwest Solar Expo & Smart Energy Symposium, April 30-May 2 in Minneapolis, MN. Exhibition, networking, solar farm visit, startup showcase, training, more. Register today!
 
Join Greentech Media for the 11th Solar Summit on May 1-2. Get 15% off with code ENN15.

EUCI invites you to the 2018 New York REV Summit, May 1-2 in Brooklyn, New York. Register here.
 
AWEA invites you to the Powering Forward conference May 7-10 in Chicago, Illinois. The conference, entitled WINDPOWER, will create an opportunity for the industry comes together to plan for the future and keep this success story growing. Register here.
 
EUCI invites you to “Blockchain Technology for the Energy Sector” May 8-9 in Houston, Texas. Register here.
 
EUCI invites you to the 2018 Residential Demand Charges Conference, May 15-16 in Nashville, Tennessee. Register here.
 
You’re invited to the 3rd Annual Grid Modernization Forum, May 23-24 in Chicago. This event examines the latest business strategies and technology advances for implementing the distributed, intelligent, and renewables-centric grid of the future. Learn more and register here. Use code MWEN for 20% off.

EUCI invites you to the Leadership Conference for Women in Energy 2018 on June 4-5 in St. Louis, Missouri. Register here.

Join ACI in San Francisco on June 6-7 for Grid-Scale Storage 2018 and learn through different panel discussions, site tours, workshops, and presentations on the significant market opportunities for energy storage. Register here.

EUCI invites you to the 2018 Western Transmission Summit: From Expansion to Modernization – Addressing the Changing Landscape of Transmission Planning and Investment. This event will be June 11-12 in Denver, Colorado. Register here.

You’re invited to present, advertise, exhibit, or sponsor at The Energy Fair, June 15-17 in Custer, Wisconsin. Learn more and register here.
 
You’re invited to the EV Roadmap 11, June 19-20 in Portland, Oregon. Register here.
 
You’re invited to the Grid Evolution Summit hosted by Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), in Washington, D.C., July 9-12. Register here.
 
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) invite you to Solar Power International, September 24-27, in Anaheim, California. Registration opens in spring of 2018 here.

 

Announcements and Opportunities
ARPA-E announced $16 million in funding for eight projects as part of the Innovative Natural-gas Technologies for Efficiency Gain in Reliable and Affordable Thermochemical Electricity-generation (INTEGRATE) program. 

The Rural Energy for America Program has published a Notice of Solicitation of Applications for Federal Fiscal Year 2018 in the Federal Register. The Application Templates and Forms are available at USDA Rural Development Offices or the National REAP Website at: www.rd.usda.gov/reap, under Forms and Resources.