Newsletter: Solarize Michigan Sends RFP out to Installers

This newsletter was originally published on January 22, 2016.

Solarize Michigan Sends RFP out to Installers

On Thursday, January 21, the Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI), Michigan EIBC’s sister organization, in partnership with Saginaw Future, Midland Tomorrow and Bay Future, sent out a request for proposals (RFP) for a brand-new initiative – the Solarize Michigan Project.

The primary objectives of Solarize Michigan are to catalyze community-wide interest in residential and commercial solar energy systems, reduce the cost of solar energy systems to homeowners and businesses and accelerate the deployment of solar installations in the Great Lakes Bay Region through consumer education, grassroots marketing and uniform system offerings. The program is also intended to reduce the average cost of residential and small commercial solar PV installations through bulk purchasing, economies of scale, prequalification of solar installers and through offsetting the need for customer acquisition.

Developed in Portland, Oregon in 2010, there are now successful solarize campaigns in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. This will be the first solarize campaign in Michigan.

Those interested in bidding should email Stephen Wooden at IEI and ask for a response template. There will be a briefing webinar on February 4, with bids due by February 11 and selection on February 18.

 

Time’s Running Out – Register for Corporate Advanced Energy Pathways Conference Today!

We’re just 11 days away from the Corporate Pathways to Advanced Energy: The Growth of Market Demand for Clean Energy Solutions conference in Detroit, and the list of leading global businesses confirmed as participants continues to grow!

Don’t miss out – reserve your seat today!

MEC3 – the 3rd Annual Michigan Energy Conference – is one of the first conferences of its kind to bring together high-profile corporate leaders in what has become an important international dialogue on accelerating opportunities to source, procure, and manage 21st Century energy resources. The conference will take place on February 2, 2016 at The Westin Book Cadillac hotel in Detroit. 

Please visit the conference’s website for the full list of speakers and panel topics.

The conference will be one of the first of its kind to bring together high profile corporate leaders in what has become an important international dialogue on accelerating opportunities to source, procure and manage 21st Century energy resources. The industry keynote speaker is Adam Kramer, V.P. of Strategy for Switch.

Register today, as there are a limited number of tickets for this conference.

In addition to Kramer, other confirmed speakers for MEC3 include:

  • Myles Burnsed, Director of New Markets, groSolar
  • Tom Catania, Executive-in-Residence, Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, University of Michigan
  • Aakash Chandarana, Regional VP of Rates and Regulatory Affairs, Xcel Energy
  • Liesl Eichler Clark, President, Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council
  • Jay Dietrich, Program Manager: Climate Stewardship and Energy, IBM
  • Anne Kelly, Sr. Director of the Policy Program and Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) Coalition, Ceres
  • Kevin Parzyck, Vice President – Development, Invenergy
  • Nancy Popa, Executive Director – Renewable Energy, Consumers Energy
  • Letha Tawney, Director of Utility Innovation and Polsky Chair for Renewable Energy, World Resources Institute
  • Rob Threlkeld, Global Manager – Renewable Energy, General Motors
  • Steve Vavrik, Chief Commercial Officer, Apex Clean Energy
  • Ron Voglewede, Global Sustainability Director, Whirlpool
  • Greg White, Executive Director, NARUC
  • Rod Williamson, Global Energy Category Manager, Dow Corning 
  • Gabe Wing, Director of Safety and Sustainability, HermanMiller

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, and many come with the benefit of exhibiting at the event. Please contact Nicole Forward for more information.

 

Michigan Energy Clips

Switch, longtime advanced energy consumer, recently announced that the former Steelcase Pyramid they are redeveloping into a datacenter will be 100 percent powered by renewables.

Powers Distributing Company announced that they will be the first beer distributor to utilize PACE financing.

MIRS has a piece about how the House will be taking a “cool-off” period from energy issues, after a House Republicans offered a “myriad of concerns,” predominantly around electric choice.

The MPSC opened an investigation into Consumers Energy’s estimated billing practices after hearing complaints from customers about estimated bills.

Midwest Energy News has a story about the importance of strengthening the renewable portfolio standard in Michigan.

 

National Energy Clips

The Hill has a piece on the bipartisan US Senate energy bill making its way to the floor for amendments.

The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected a challenge to the EPA’s Clean Power Plan.

GreenBiz has a piece about an estimated $16.5 trillion in new global investment in advanced energy.

Fortune has a story about New York Governor Andrew Cuomo pushing a new $5 billion clean energy fund.

Utility Dive reports that the microgrid market should top $35 billion by 2020.

 

Michigan Energy Events
The Michigan Energy Forum will meet in Ann Arbor on Thursday, February 11 at Ann Arbor SPARK, 330 East Liberty, Lower Level. The theme for the meeting is the Clean Power Plan, and the meeting will also feature an update on state and federal energy policy, as well as opportunities for networking and business development. Confirmed speakers include Steve Kulesia of the Michigan Public Service Commission, Douglas Jester of 5 Lakes Energy, and Michael DiRamio of ICF International. Registration is available here

The annual IPU Michigan Forum on Economic Regulatory Policy will take place Friday, February 26 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing.

SAVE THE DATE: The 4th Annual Michigan EIBC Members Meeting will take place on Monday, April 25 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing. Additional information and registration will be available soon.

Additional Resources 
Advanced Energy Economy (AEE) is home to PowerSuite, a suite of tools that allows companies a one-stop on-line portal to search, track, and collaborate on state legislation and regulatory proceedings from around the country.
 
PowerSuite includes both BillBoard, the AEE dashboard for managing state legislation, and DocketDash, the AEE dashboard for managing state public utility commission proceedings. Subscription required.
 
SolarPermit.org is a national solar permitting database that provides information on permitting for solar in jurisdictions across the country. The database includes a variety of information, from average permit turnaround times, to information required to be included in the permit, to contact information for individual jurisdictions. You can browse the requirements for the Michigan cities included in the database here.
 
The U.S. Department of Energy is offering A Guide to Federal Finance Facilities Available for Energy Efficiency Upgrades and Clean Energy Deployment. The downloadable guide provides information about the various federal financing programs available for energy efficiency and renewable energy — making it easier for state, local and tribal leaders, along with their partners in the private sector, to find capital for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
 
The Department of Energy has offers free public access to accepted peer-reviewed manuscripts or published scientific journal articles from projects funded by the DOE within 12 months of publication.