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October 30, 2026

Newsletter: Energy Waste Reduction in Michigan

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  • Newsletter: Energy Waste Reduction in Michigan
  • Michigan EIBC President, Laura Sherman, Quoted in Michigan Advance
  • Rebuttal Testimony in Consumers Rate Case
  • Newsletter: Utility performance incentives and more
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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 Public Service Commission Releases Report on Energy Waste Reduction

    Recently, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) released its 2025 Utility Energy Waste Reduction Programs Annual Report, noting that these programs resulted in a savings of $1.44 billion to Michiganders last year. The programs, which offer upgrades in lighting, heating, home weatherization, and more, are designed to help customers use energy more efficiently and save money on utility bills. In turn, these savings in energy could also put off the need for new power generation sources. According to the report, every $1 spent by utilities on energy waste reduction programs generated $2.42 in customer savings last year.

    Since 2008, all electric and natural gas utilities have been required to implement customer programs that lower energy use to reduce future costs. Last year, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranked Michigan’s energy waste reduction program among the best in the U.S.

    Read the report here.

    Michigan EIBC’s Justin Carpenter Speaks on Vehicle to Grid Forum Panel

    On Tuesday, Justin Carpenter, Michigan EIBC’s director of policy, spoke at the Vehicle to Grid (V2G) Forum in Yspilanti. Now in its eighth iteration, the Fall V2G Business, Policy & Technology Forum brings together industry experts, working groups, utility professionals and others who are focused on the successful development and implementation of bidirectional vehicle-to-grid technology that can both draw a charge from and put stored energy back onto the grid.

    Carpenter spoke about the challenges of moving utilities past the pilot stage toward widespread implementation of V2G programs on larger scale. Widespread adoption could ease congestion and prevent blackouts, especially when combined with other customer-sited energy resources such as rooftop solar.

    Michigan EIBC Files Comments on Competitive Procurement with the Michigan Public Service Commission

    In early October, Michigan EIBC and Advanced Energy United submitted comments to the MPSC on competitive procurement, a process where projects can compete to meet identified  energy or capacity needs. Among our recommendations was to require the utilities to procure at least 50% of the needed assets from third-party-owned projects. This requirement would ensure fair competition, lower-costs, and enable access to projects that can come to market more quickly. 

    We also recommend the use of an independent administrator to run competitive bidding processes and rank proposals, especially when an affiliate or utility self-built project is bid into a request for proposals, ensuring impartiality when projects are chosen.

    Read our submitted comments here. 

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    Michigan Energy News

    • Community solar bills languish as Michigan debates energy affordability. (Michigan Advance)
    • Ottawa County judge rules for a solar developer in $330M land dispute with a local family. (Michigan Advance)
    • El-Sayed and Rogers touch on EVs in their final Senate debate. (CBS News)
    • State grants are turning large-scale solar, wind projects into local windfalls. (Ottawa News Network)
    • Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is opposing a proposed sale of 13 hydroelectric dams from Consumers Energy to Confluence Hydro. (WNEM)

    National Energy News

    • Ford simplifies using your EV as a home battery with the $30K Fathom. (Ars Technica)
    • Engineers are designing ways to store energy as heat in batteries. (Boston University)
    • Can we harvest the oceans’ energy? (Yale Climate Connections)
    • What kind of virtual power plant would you choose? (Canary Media)
    • As U.S. grid batteries surge, the risk of fires plummets. (Canary Media)
    • Reliability standards for AI data centers and crypto miners move closer to adoption. (Utility Dive)

    Events

    • November 13: Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA) Year End Year Begin Celebration – The GLREA team reviews the work and the challenges it addressed in 2026 and prepares GLREA’s Program Work and Goals for 2027.  This Year End – Year Begin Celebration provides an opportunity to reflect upon the work being done in the world of renewable energy. Register here.
    • December 2: Institute for Energy Innovation Energy 101: Breakfast + Brainstorm – Several times a year, the Institute for Energy Innovation hosts its Energy 101 educational events to connect Michigan EIBC members with legislators and legislative staffers. This December 2, participants will learn about the importance and value of community renewable energy resources. These events give policy makers and Michigan EIBC members an opportunity to network and dig deeper into the energy policy issues shaping Michigan’s advanced energy economy. If your company or organization is not already a member, contact us for more information on membership (mieibc@mieibc.org).

    Jobs

    If you have a job announcement you would like in the newsletter, please send the position and a link to apply to Mark Griffin at mark@mieibc.org. Please include in the email a specific end date for the job posting.

    Opportunities

    • The Elective Pay Energy Community Bonus Credit provides a 10% increase to clean energy investment or production tax credits for eligible projects located in designated energy communities. Elective pay lets tax-exempt and governmental entities (like local governments, schools, and nonprofits) receive clean energy tax credits as a cash refund from the IRS. Any tax-exempt organizations installing solar or battery can contact can click here for more information about free technical assistance to identify elective pay status and processes.
    • The Remediation and Redevelopment Division of EGLE is excited to announce the first round of Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Brownfield Renewable Energy Pilot. The Brownfield Renewable Energy Pilot will award $10 million in grants over its lifetime to local units of government to support the development of renewable energy and energy storage on sites of known environmental contamination. Proposal timeline is between November 2 and December 11, 2026. The RFP is on an expedited timeline to allow for ready applicants to take advantage of the remaining federal solar investment tax credit, which requires projects to be in service by the end of 2027. A second round of RFP will open in early/spring 2027. 
    • The Michigan Green Building Collaborative (MiGBC) Leadership Awards. MiGBC celebrates the year’s accomplishments in the green building industry by awarding notable projects, individuals, and organizations. We recognize those who strive for innovation, sustainability, and community vibrancy. MiGBC’s mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, in a way that improves the quality of life in Michigan. Deadline for submission is October 2. Read more.
    • The Renewables Ready Communities Award (RRCA) hosted by Michigan’s EGLE is a one-time payment that local governments can receive for hosting and/or permitting eligible large-scale renewable energy projects. Local governments can apply as soon as an eligible energy project is permitted, and award payment is made when construction on the project begins. An eligible project is a grid-connected wind, solar, or energy storage project in Michigan which received a local permit (e.g. a land use permit or site plan approval) after September 30th, 2023. Read more.
    • Sponsors and donations needed to 3x impact of the HARVEST Project — a collaboration with United Agrivoltaics Heartland Alliance, UMich SEAS, and MSU Extension. Masters students work on real-world land use and community challenges faced by solar and farmers. Sponsor a case study while gaining visibility and tailored insights!
    • Sustainable States Network RFQ for Build America, Buy America (BABA)-Compliant Charging Equipment (Rolling)
    • Michigan EGLE funding (Rolling)

    Resources

    • The Michigan PSC has launched an affordability webpage that outlines actions the Commission has taken in recent years to control energy costs and expand energy assistance programs for those most in need. 
    • The Small Business Association of Michigan published a compilation of available clean energy federal tax credits for businesses. See Clean Energy Tax Credits for Michigan Businesses
    • The National Governors Association and the National League of Cities EV Workforce Collaborative Resource Hub
    • Michigan Department of Natural Resources best practices for wind energy and wildlife in Michigan
    • The Michigan Infrastructure Office Technical Assistance Center has launched a website with information about how tax-exempt entities can take advantage of federal clean energy tax credits using elective pay.
      • See new deadlines for elective pay following the passage of OBBBA.
    • 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.
    • Rheaply, NextCycle Michigan and Michigan EGLE have launched the Michigan Materials Marketplace, which allows businesses to buy and sell excess materials so they can be reused instead of discarded.