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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 President Laura Sherman in the Detroit News

In a new opinion piece in the Detroit News, Michigan EIBC President Laura Sherman refutes criticisms of the energy laws passed by the legislature and signed by Gov. Whitmer at the end of last year.

“After failing to stop the passage of the laws, opponents are now trying to sow doubt on the path to carbon neutrality by claiming energy costs will skyrocket,” Sherman writes. But “in sharp contrast to the misleading arguments, the laws will help to avoid higher energy costs for the average household while reducing emissions, creating jobs and making Michigan’s economy more competitive.”

She goes on to explain how through stronger energy efficiency standards, targets for more energy storage and continuing the growth of renewable energy that will reduce customer bills, “Michigan’s new clean energy laws will pay dividends for consumers for decades.”

Michigan EIBC’s Grace Michienzi Speaks At Energy Code Hearing

On Feb. 22, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) held a hearing about finalizing the 2021 energy conservation code, which applies to new buildings in Michigan. Michigan EIBC has been advocating for LARA to update its code to the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Michigan EIBC Senior Director of Policy Grace Michienzi testified at the hearing, and praised LARA for proposing an updated code that includes energy-saving improvements from the 2021 IECC. Through changes like more efficient thermal envelopes, improved mechanical system efficiency, improved lighting, the 2021 code is expected to improve energy efficiency in a new residential building by 10.7%, which equates to $327 in annual utility bill savings for the average Michigan home.

In addition to supporting implementation of the 2021 code, Michigan EIBC also sees room for LARA to go even farther with the codes and do more to “future proof” our state’s building stock. At the hearing, Michienzi called upon LARA to include suggested code language that would make buildings “EV-ready” with the right infrastructure already in place to add EV chargers, as well as similar language for solar, battery and home electrification readiness.

She also said it is important that LARA move quickly toward updating the codes again. “Following a number of delays in updating to the 2021 IECC, it’s critical that Michigan move toward updating on a regular, 3-year code update cycle to continue to build new homes and buildings that reduce energy bills for Michigan residents and businesses,” Michienzi said.

Home Energy Rebate Convening Held in Ann Arbor

Thank you to all who attended the Home Energy Rebate Convening, sponsored by Michigan EIBC and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), in Ann Arbor on Feb. 21. The convening featured a presentation from Michigan EGLE Assistant Division Director, Materials Management Division Julie Staveland.

Following her presentation, there was a panel discussion featuring Michigan EIBC member SEEL, LLC Vice President of Inclusion and Economic Development Scott Alan Davis, Michigan EIBC member Walker-Miller Energy Services Director of Community Partnerships Ben Dueweke, Michigan EIBC member Ecotelligent Homes Owner and Energy Consultant Amanda Godward and Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations Sustainability and Innovations Director Missy Stults.

Registration Open for 12th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference in East Lansing on April 24

Registration is now 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.

Stay tuned for announcements about speakers and panels soon!

Thank you sponsors!

TETRAWATT

GIGAWATT

MEGAWATT

KILOWATT

THE WATT

New Member

ENGIE

ENGIE is a global leader in low-carbon energy and services with 96,000 employees in over 30 countries globally. We are committed to accelerating the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy by building on our key businesses (low-carbon gas, renewable energy, energy services) to offer competitive solutions to our customers. ENGIE’s North American headquarters are located in Houston, with a large contingent of employees based in Chicago and elsewhere across the country.

Renewing Members

Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright PLLC is a general practice business law firm dedicated to exceeding client expectations, with more than 450 attorneys in more than 50 practice areas. Headquartered in Detroit and founded in 1878, the firm has eighteen offices in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, D.C., Toronto, Florida and Texas. The firm is very active in clean energy.

Palmetto Clean Technology
Palmetto is expanding access to clean energy with novel platform solutions that empower homeowners to go solar, enable businesses to grow, and drive environmental impact at scale.

Michigan Energy News

Gov. Whitmer announces the Battery Manufacturing and Advanced Manufacturing Challenge, a nationwide competition for companies seeking state and federal funds for projects in Michigan.
“Adopting the 2021 IECC standards and upgrading our buildings to run on clean energy will benefit all residents today and in the future,” writes Better World Builders, LLC President Mike Lee in the Detroit News.
“As we turn the page on 2023 and welcome in 2024, I see a bright future for Michigan and the people who call this beautiful state home, in no small part due to the Michigan Jobs, Michigan Energy legislation we passed in November and that was signed into law by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer,” state Rep. John Fitzgerald writes in Crain’s Grand Rapids Business.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) announces a conditional commitment for a $544 million loan for SK Siltron CSS, LLC to expand silicon carbide wafer manufacturing for EV power electronics.
DTE Energy Chairman and CEO Jerry Norcia indicates that DTE’s electric utility may file for another rate increase this spring.

National Energy News

California regulators approve a plan requiring the state to add 56 GW of clean energy resources, including solar, storage and offshore wind, by 2035.
States and local governments are finalizing applications to the $5 billion Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) program created by the Inflation Reduction Act.
A bill passed by the U.S. Senate increases funding for domestic uranium enrichment, including the production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), a key fuel for some small modular nuclear reactor designs.
An analysis from Energy Innovation and the REPEAT Project looks at progress in project deployment from the Inflation Reduction Act compared to projections.
The effort to deploy more virtual power plants in California continues.

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.

Elevate

Senior Associate, Impact Capital. Location: Chicago, Ill.

The Senior Associate, Impact Capital is an integral part of the Elevate’s Impact Capital team working to pilot and scale financial tools that support Elevate’s work to advance equity through climate action. As part of the Impact Capital team, the Senior Associate, Impact Capital is responsible for identifying and building relationships with potential borrowers for loan products, providing excellent customer service while supporting applicants through the underwriting process and assisting with loan closings. Additionally, the Senior Associate will assist in implementing the infrastructure and systems needed to support growth and program expansion over the next few years. The ideal candidate for this dynamic position excels at outreach, likes to create and improve processes, is very detail oriented, has experience or is interested in learning about financial statements, and is comfortable with iterative processes.

Grants Administrator. Location: Chicago. Ill.

Our Grants and Contracts team has an opening! Do you, or someone you know, have a minimum of three (3+) years of progressively responsible, relevant experience in accounting and grants administration? The Grants Administrator supports Elevate’s existing programs and expansion of new business development opportunities by managing compliance and accounting of Elevate’s grants, awards, and contracts. The Grants Administrator provides fiscal and accounting support to ensure proper use and reporting, budgeting, and billing of grants (including federal), cooperative agreements, and contracts. The position works closely with Elevate’s program managers, development, legal, and the finance and accounting team.

Michigan and National Energy Events

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!

Opportunities

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.

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.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is hiring an Engineer in its Energy & Recycling Section. Find out more here.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office has issued a funding opportunity announcement for concentrating solar power and photovoltaic. The final deadline is March 6. Learn more here.

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.

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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