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May 7, 2023

Newsletter: Guide to IIJA and IRA Opportunities

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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 and Advanced Energy United Release IIJA and IRA Toolkits

    New reports completed by Michigan EIBC and our trade organization member Advanced Energy United provide detailed guidance intended to help state governments and utility regulators navigate the many provisions found in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which are expected to have a combined economic impact of $2.8 trillion in incremental economic activity, 23 million additional jobs, and $60 billion in annual consumer savings.

    The guide, Unleashing Michigan’s Advanced Energy Future: Federal Resources to Combat Inflation, Create Jobs, and Achieve Energy Independence, comes in two versions: one for governors, the other for regulators. But for each major IIJA and IRA provision, both toolkits break down how the program and related funding works, explain the big picture of the significance of the provision and recommend steps for governors and regulators to take advantage of the opportunity.

    For example, the IRA and IIJA provide State Energy Offices and other arms of the state Executive Branch with significant and flexible financial resources to support advanced energy and transportation electrification in the form of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, Climate Pollution Reduction Grants and the State Energy Program. The toolkit describes the key elements of these programs and makes recommendations. Governors and their administrations should “convene community leaders, non-profit organizations, and other relevant parties to help identify underfinanced opportunities for clean energy deployment and other measures to cut emissions, with a focus on opportunities in low-income and disadvantaged communities.” Regulators, meanwhile, should “require that utility interconnection procedures and timelines allow for the quick and  effective deployment of clean energy technologies—particularly DERs—connected with these projects and programs.”

    You can download both the toolkit reports from the Michigan EIBC website here.

     


     

    Milestone in Plans for Federally-Funded EV Charging Network Reached

    The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) this week took the initial steps in the process to select contractors for the EV charging network that the state will build with funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program created by the IIJA.

    MDOT released a Request for Qualifications for entities “interested in submitting proposals for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure along Michigan’s Alternative Fuel Corridors (AFC) to establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access, and reliability.” The submitters who receive prequalification through this process will then be eligible to bid through a RFP that MDOT will issue in July. All RFQ responses must be submitted electronically to MDOT to MDOT-Michigan-NEVI@michigan.gov by June 6.

    This process is for Round 1 of Michigan’s NEVI plan. The goal of Round 1 is “to deploy and fund the maximum possible number of EV charging sites along Michigan’s designated AFCs,” the RFQ said. Michigan is receiving $110 million for the NEVI program through fiscal year 2026 and Round 1 consists of $39 million for fiscal years 2022 and 2023.

    “Launching our state’s NEVI grant program will help us get these dollars into communities efficiently so we can help drivers making the switch to electric traverse our two peninsulas without worrying about where they’re going to charge,” Gov. Whitmer said in a statement.

     

    Michigan Radio Interviews Lean & Green Michigan President Todd Williams on C-PACE Financing Legislation

    This Wednesday Tracy Samilton with Michigan Radio interviewed Todd Williams, president of Michigan EIBC member Lean & Green Michigan, about the new bills that would expand commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing.

    “It’s an opportunity for commercial property owners that many of them are still unaware of,” Williams said. The new legislation, however, would increase C-PACE’s profile by allowing more types of projects to qualify for C-PACE financing and reducing barriers for property owners to pursue C-PACE loans.

    The bills, SB 302 and SB 303, were introduced to the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment last week.

    More Pictures From the Michigan Energy Innovators Conference

    Thank you again to all who attended the 11th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference on April 26 in East Lansing! Here are some more pictures from the event:

    Renewing Member

    Pine Gate Renewables
    Pine Gate Renewables is a fully integrated renewable energy company powering the clean energy transition. With one of the largest operational fleets and development pipelines in the nation, we provide renewable energy and storage solutions for utility and C&I partners across North America. We have a trusted history in executing utility-scale projects that generate cost-effective energy solutions and provide attractive long-term investment opportunities. Pine Gate builds projects with a community mindset and is committed to delivering sustainable value where we live, work and operate.

    Michigan Energy News

    • The right mix of policies can allow Michigan to create more than 56,000 jobs in electric vehicle manufacturing by 2030 and thousands of additional jobs from related EV charging infrastructure installation, maintenance and utilities, according to a new report from World Resources Institute.
    • Norwegian hydrogen company Nel says it will build an electrolyzer “gigafactory” in Michigan, picking the location to be near Michigan EIBC member General Motors.
    • The State of Michigan’s Jerome T. Hart Building in Saginaw and the South Grand Building in Lansing win the 2022 Biggest Loser awards for their energy efficiency achievements. 
    • A group pushing for a ballot initiative to ban solar farms on rural lands withdraws its petition. 
    • Negotiations between the U.S. and Canada over the Line 5 pipeline are going on in D.C.

    National Energy News

    • Local solar and batteries can prevent rolling blackouts from winter storms, Solar United Neighbors Executive Director Anya Schoolman and Vote Solar Executive Director Sachu Constantine write in Energy News Network.
    • Portland General Electric says it is adding 400 MW of battery storage in what the company describes as the largest ever procurement of standalone energy storage by a U.S. utility outside California.
    • Maine, where more people heat their homes with oil than in any other state, is more than 80% of the way to achieving its goal of installing 100,000 new home heat pumps by 2025, but is struggling to install heat pumps in low-income households.
    • Maryland lawmakers approve a measure that requires an increasing amount of vehicles sold in the state to be zero-emissions.
    • A jury issues a favorable ruling for the $1 billion New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line project that has been delayed by legal challenges.
    • The President and CEO of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison, says he hopes efforts to turn the California ISO into a multi-state, western RTO are successful.

    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.

     

    Pivot Energy

    Manager, Policy & Market Strategy. Location: Denver, Colo.

    The Manager of Policy and Market Strategy (West) is at the forefront of distributed solar policy and will help guide the company’s development and advocacy strategies. Pivot operates nationwide, actively developing and owning commercial solar, community solar, small-utility and battery storage projects in more than a dozen states. We are also one of the leading low-income community solar providers. In an industry defined by regulation and legislation, it is an essential advantage to assess the impact of existing and new policies quickly and accurately, as well as to proactively shape policies where necessary. 

     

    Michigan and National Energy Events

    The Michigan Climate Action Network is holding the 2023 Michigan Climate Summit at Oakland University on June 2. Register here.

    On July 18-20, PlugVolt will be hosting Battery Seminar 2023 in Plymouth, Mich., featuring an entire day of in-depth technical tutorials on cutting-edge battery research presented by industry subject matter experts and world renowned professors from Top 50 U.S. Universities. The next two days will include complementary industry updates provided by speakers from Automotive and Grid Storage OEMs, major battery manufacturers and global Tier 1 system developers and suppliers. Attendees will also get an exclusive opportunity to tour INTERTEK Battery Testing Center of Excellence in Plymouth, MI (USA) firsthand, ask questions to resident experts, and enjoy some light appetizers and beverages while networking with industry peers. Register here.

    Save the dates Aug. 6-9 for the Mid-America Regulatory Conference (MARC) Annual Meeting at the JW Marriott in downtown Grand Rapids.

    Opportunities

    As it prepares an application for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Discretionary Grant (CFI) Program, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is asking for feedback from organizations that are interested in installing EV charging stations that would be funded by the CFI Program. EGLE is asking those who want to provide feedback to fill out this Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program Intake Form by 5 pm EST on May 8.

    Michigan EIBC member Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Tech just 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. Interested companies can learn more by visiting the program website. Applicants should complete this application form by May 12.

    Indiana Michigan Power Co. has issued its 2023 All-Source RFP. Proposals are due May 26. Find the RFP documents and more information here.

    Consumers Energy Company has announced it will seek competitive bids in response to a RFP from participants in the MISO Energy Market in accordance with the Company’s expansion of the Voluntary Green Pricing (“VGP”) Program. With this RFP, Consumers Energy will solicit proposals for solar and wind generation projects, separate and distinct from the ongoing Consumers Energy 2022 IRP RFP for solar generation projects. The draft RFP and associated documents are available here, with the final versions expected to be available in late May. 

    The U.S. Department of Energy’s Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) is offering more than $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to teams across America with winning ideas to accelerate widespread, equitable energy efficiency and building electrification upgrades. Follow Buildings UP on HeroX.com for all prize-related updates. Phase 1 submissions are due by July 18.