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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 Grace Michienzi Speaks to Michigan League of Conservation Voters Summit
This week Michigan EIBC Senior Director of Policy Grace Michienzi spoke at the Energy Savings Now! Summit in Grand Rapids, hosted by the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.
She spoke about the ways the Inflation Reduction Act is helping to transform energy in Michigan and around the country. The IRA has created over 142,000 jobs across the United States, with over 13,000 jobs created in Michigan since the law’s passage.
Michienzi detailed the rebates for home efficiency and electrification that are being offered by the IRA, including $8,000 for heat pump HVAC systems. On top of those rebates, the IRA also offers tax credits for air source and geothermal heat pumps, electrical panel upgrades, solar energy systems and battery storage, as Michienzi discussed.
Electrification Likely to Reshape Energy Use for DTE, Testimony Argues
DTE is underestimating the degree to which building electrification will shift energy use patterns in its natural gas utility’s service territory, reducing gas consumption as customers switch to technologies like heat pumps, according to testimony filed in DTE’s ongoing gas rate case by the Ecology Center, the Environmental Law & Policy Center, Union of Concerned Scientists and Vote Solar.
While DTE is projecting annual decreases in customer demand for gas through at least 2028, the decline is likely to be much greater than DTE is expecting, the testimony from CEB Energy Consulting Founder Bradley Cebulko said. That is because DTE does not include the effect of building electrification in its demand forecast, claiming that this element is too difficult to predict.
But, Cebulko argues, DTE’s “refusal to assess the potential impact of building electrification on its business is unreasonable and exposes its customers to too much risk” from the rate increases that would follow as the utility tries to cover the costs of its gas system from a dwindling number of customers.
“Even modest levels of building electrification would lead to a decline in customer demand and therefore substantial rate increases for remaining gas customers, which could lead to a cycle of further incentivizing additional electrification,” Cebulko said.
He cites statistics about the adoption of heat pumps as evidence that electrification is accelerating. “Electric heat pumps have now outsold gas furnaces two years in a row. These data do not account for the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act, which should help further accelerate the adoption of electric appliances through the program’s generous appliance rebates and tax incentives,” according to his testimony.
Potential for Microgrids and Distributed Energy Resources Subject of Next Convening on May 22 in Grand Rapids
The combination of microgrids and distributed energy resources could revolutionize energy use for a variety of customer types, including commercial buildings and institutional customers, and has the potential to help outage-prone, disadvantaged residential communities get access to clean and reliable power.
What could this promising future for microgrids look like? That is what Michigan EIBC will be exploring in Grand Rapids on May 22 at our Public Convening, Microgrids to Improve Reliability, Resiliency, and Expand Distributed Energy Resources, sponsored by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)
The convening will feature a presentation, followed by Q&A, from Michigan State University Professor of Electrical Engineering Joydeep Mitra, who is also Director of the Energy Reliability & Security (ERiSe) Laboratory, and Senior Faculty Associate at the Institute of Public Utilities. Dr. Mitra has published research on microgrids and the potential for them to use both electric vehicle charging and energy storage systems to optimize performance.
Next, the convening will bring together a panel discussion moderated by Michigan EIBC President Laura Sherman with the following panelists from Michigan EIBC member companies:
- Eric Geerlings, Metro Consulting Associates
- Kevin O’Connell, Michigan CAT
- Joel Yu, Enchanted Rock
The convening will also feature lunch and networking opportunities. Get your tickets now!
New Members
Energy SolutionsAt Energy Solutions we focus on the big impacts. And we believe that the market economy can be a powerful force to deliver large-scale energy, carbon and water-use savings. For more than 25 years, our pioneering market transformation programs have delivered reliable, large-scale and cost-effective savings to our utility, government, and private sector clients across North America. We are a mission-led, employee-owned clean energy implementation firm whose team
of smart, passionate people are committed to excellence and to building long-lasting, trusted relationships with our clients.
IonDynamics Energy
IonDynamics is an energy mobility solutions company dedicated to revolutionizing the way energy is stored, distributed, and traded worldwide. Our mission is to leverage state-of-the-art technologies to develop an innovative energy platform that ensures seamless access and smart management of clean energy. With a focus on innovation and building a robust network, we are evolving into a comprehensive energy trading platform that promotes sustainability and efficiency in every transaction. We are committed to empowering communities and industries to embrace a clean, resilient, and decentralized energy future.
Renewing Members
Martin Waymire
At Martin Waymire, we’re proud to support clients working to make Michigan a better place. For more than a decade, we’ve earned the trust and respect of hundreds of clients, managing award-winning public relations, digital marketing and advocacy campaigns with winning results. It’s why we’re considered one of the top public relations firms in the state.
Michigan Energy Options
We guide communities towards greater energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption through three approaches: delivering large-scale energy programs, implementing community-based projects, and providing technical consulting and services. MEO collaborates with for-profit and nonprofit partners to provide practical, cost-effective solutions to complex energy challenges.
Nexamp
We’re working with communities, businesses, and municipalities to democratize clean energy and support U.S. energy independence. Nexamp subscribers receive an average of $275 annual electricity savings, and partners share in the profits of our unique vertically integrated model. Best practices are honored, operations are efficient, and each year our solution expands farther.
Michigan Energy News
- New data published in the journal Nature shows how often Michigan residents are out of power compared to neighboring states.
- Local and state leaders gather in Detroit to celebrate the awarding of $156 million in grants for low-income solar development from the federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
- Vice President Kamala Harris speaks in Detroit about federal funding to help the transition toward EVs.
National Energy News
- The 10 GW of battery capacity in California are having a noticeable effect reducing that state’s reliance on gas-fired power plants.
- Rising interest rates have increased costs for renewable energy more than for natural gas, according to Wood Mackenzie.
- Participating in virtual power plants can improve financial stability for utilities, according to a report from Morningstar DBRS.
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.
AES
Stakeholder Relations Advisor. Location: Remote (Indiana, Michigan).
The Stakeholder Relations Advisor will work within AES Clean Energy’s Stakeholder Relations team in the central US, specifically MISO North, to include Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and other states, as assigned. This is an exciting opportunity to have a career in industry-leading engagement strategies to empower communities and advance a carbon-free future. This role will support AES’ strategic renewable energy-related stakeholder engagement, local community relations, drafting communications and collateral materials for strategic planning and social impact partnership development. This role will report to the Manager of Stakeholder Relations MISO.
Elevate
Manager, Business Analysis & Quality Assurance. Location: Chicago/Hybrid Remote.
The Manager of Business Analysis and Quality Assurance serves a key role in facilitating Elevate’s program delivery by ensuring program requirements are captured, and software is developed to meet program needs while overseeing the Business Analysis and Quality Assurance teams. This role collaborates with Elevate management and staff to effectively complete their responsibilities.
Michigan and National Energy Events
Join Michigan EGLE for the 2024 Michigan Healthy Climate Conference at the Lansing Center on May 16-17. Register here.
Register for Michigan EIBC’s Public Convening on Microgrids on May 22 in Grand Rapids, sponsored by Michigan EGLE.
Registration is open for the Mid-America Regulatory Conference (MARC) 2024 Annual Conference on June 9-12 in Minneapolis.
The 68th Annual Michigan Energy Providers Conference will be held at the Grand Traverse Resort July 25-26. Register here.
Opportunities
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 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,
Michigan EGLE is offering at least $320,000 in funding MI Solar Communities-MI Solar Access Program. Applications will be accepted through March 31, 2025, or when funding is expended, whichever comes first. Find the request for proposals for MI Solar Access here.