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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:
West Michigan Primed for Advanced Energy Storage Investment, Report Says
A recent report sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) lays out the landscape for manufacturing in the advanced energy storage sector in West Michigan, finding that there are already nearly two dozen companies working across the battery supply chain, with potential for high growth in the future.
The report breaks down the existing opportunities in West Michigan for advanced energy storage across six stages: raw material sourcing, refining/processing, cell assembly, pack assembly, end use and material recycling. The stages identified by the report for highest growth potential were cell assembly and pack assembly.
Regarding cell assembly, “key cell producers like LG Energy Solution have already invested heavily in West Michigan. As the industry grows these manufacturers and others are expected to increase their investment further,” the report said.
New investments are expected as well. For example, a subsidiary of the South Korean battery cooling plate manufacturer LT Precision Co., LTD recently announced it will establish its North American headquarters in Holland.
Michigan accounts for one-third of U.S. battery production, MEDC has found.
MPSC Holds Siting Workshop with Michigan EIBC Member Companies
The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) has begun the process of implementing Public Act 233, the new law that requires a new process for siting large renewable energy and energy storage projects in which the MPSC can certify projects under certain conditions.
On March 19, the MPSC held a workshop on implementation issues related to the new law, featuring a panel discussion on siting led by Michigan EIBC President Laura Sherman. The panel featured the following representatives of Michigan EIBC member companies:
- Invenergy Assistant General Counsel, Permitting and Local Affairs Mike Hill and Senior Manager, Renewable Development Daniel Vertucci
- National Grid Renewables Permitting Manager Amber Miller and Senior Policy Manager Amanda Stallings
- EDP Renewables Sr. Associate, Government Affairs & Community Relations Bennett Fuson
- Savion Director of Permitting and Environmental Christina Martens and State Policy Manager Barry Szczesny
- Potomac Law Group Partner Tim Lundgren
Contrary to the narrative put forth by the law’s opponents, local concerns remain at the heart of the project siting process. “We don’t have eminent domain rights, so every project that we’re siting starts with property owners, landowners in the area,” Vertucci said during the workshop. “Every agreement that we have is a partnership with interested and willing landowners. They negotiate the terms of those agreements and have a decision in what is in their best interest and also the best interest of the land.”
The MPSC would only get involved in the local siting process under some circumstances, such as if a local zoning ordinance on projects is more restrictive than requirements set out by the law. Under that circumstance, a project developer could file an application to the MPSC. The MPSC Staff is going to release draft guidance on that application process by June 21.
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 just announced the conference’s mainstage panel:
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
New Member
Green Lantern Solar
Green Lantern Solar is a vertically integrated regional renewable energy development company emphasizing the development of community solar projects and commercial solar solutions for municipal, education, healthcare and government entities. Green Lantern works with landowners to revitalize and re-develop low-value sites such as brownfields, landfills, quarries/pits/extraction sites and other challenging real estate. The company currently provides a full suite of services: development, financing, construction and operations, maintenance and asset management. For more information, visit www.greenlanternsolar.com on LinkedIn and @GrnLntrnSolar on X (Twitter).
Renewing Member
Development Solutions Midwest
Development Solutions Midwest LLC provides services which lead to reducing our clients energy costs. We help reduce energy use through; energy purchasing costs; energy audits; strategic energy plans; ISO 50001; utility incentives; and project management.
Michigan Energy News
- “DTE and Consumers should spend their money modernizing their grid, trimming trees, burying lines and any other steps that provide more reliable service exclusively – not trying to buy influence with politicians,” Rep. Dylan Wegela (D-Garden City) says of the intent behind his recently-introduced legislation.
- A nuclear policy expert argues that the 2025 restart date for the Palisades nuclear plant is “not feasible.”
- Michigan lawmakers introduce bills aimed to remove barriers for developing small modular nuclear reactors.
- The Pontiac School District is deploying 40 new electric school buses this August.
National Energy News
- Google, Microsoft and Nucor announce a joint initiative to aggregate the three companies’ clean electricity demand in an attempt to incentivize new, first-of-a-kind energy projects.
- National Grid says it will invest $4 billion into the transmission and distribution grid in upstate New York.
- Alaska hosts potential sites for pumped storage that could offer energy storage capacity of about 4 TWh, according to a study from Argonne National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
- Ohio regulators approve a proposed 800-MW solar and storage project being developed by Michigan EIBC member Savion.
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,