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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 Testifies in Support of Weatherization Funding
Michigan EIBC Senior Director of Policy Grace Michienzi testified before the Michigan Senate Committee on Housing and Human Services in support of Senate Bill 562, which would allocate more federal LIHEAP funding towards weatherization assistance.
“This bill will ensure that more households in Michigan are able to make long-lasting energy improvements to their homes that will lower their energy bills while supporting both large and small energy efficiency businesses, an industry that supports over 78,000 jobs across the state,” Michienzi told lawmakers.
Michigan EIBC’s VPP Public Convening
Last week, Michigan EIBC hosted a public convening on virtual power plants where we discussed opportunities to leverage rooftop solar, energy storage, demand response resources, and EV charges for a more resilient and sustainable future. Thank you to Veridian at County Farm and our panelists for making the event possible!
Michigan Road Funding Law Increases EV Fees
Michigan’s new budget and road funding legislation will increase EV fees by an additional $100 per year, making it among the most expensive in the nation. As Michigan EIBC Policy Principal Sophia Schuster told MLive, “By raising EV fees to the highest in the country, the state is discouraging adoption and signaling to automakers that Michigan is not serious about leading in transportation electrification.”
The increase will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Generating less than $8.5 million per year, “Michigan’s communities are not going to realize significant benefits from this change, but EV drivers are going to be significantly impacted every single year,” Schuster told Michigan Public. There is legislation supported by Michigan EIBC in the Senate to fix this road funding disparity that would bring EV taxes back on par with what gas vehicle drivers pay.
Michigan Energy News
- Michigan Attorney General joins 22 other states in a lawsuit against the Environmental Protections Agency for canceling the Solar for All program. (Michigan AG)
- Ratepayer advocates say Consumers Energy’s data center plan will likely increase household energy prices and doesn’t address all costs. (Planet Detroit)
- Michigan EIBC member Barton Malow is partnering with climate-tech startup Woodchuck to repurpose wood waste as biomass to generate renewable energy. (Well News)
National Energy News
- The Department of Energy cancels $700 million in grants for battery and manufacturing projects, including a Detroit glass factory that would build energy efficient windows. (E&E)
- The Department of Interior plans to eliminate over 2,000 jobs, including hundreds of positions at the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees energy permits. (Heatmap)
- A Senate Democrat threatened to withhold votes on permitting reform unless the administration eases up on offshore wind. (E&E)
Events
- *New* Oct. 22, Oct. 31, Nov. 7, and/or Nov. 11: HARVEST Project Working Group Sessions — The United Agrivoltaics Heartland Alliance is hosting an interdisciplinary research initiative with the University of Michigan and Michigan State University on successful agrivoltaics models. Register here.
- Oct. 27: MPSC Public Hearing on Long-Term Electric Utility Planning — The Michigan Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing on Oct. 27 in Auburn Hills to hear from electric utility customers about what factors should be considered in long-term utility planning. See event details
- Oct. 29: Great Lakes Data, AI & Analytics Summit — This new gathering, hosted by WIT Solutions, brings the same energy, insights, and community connection to leaders across the state, with a focus on data, AI, and analytics strategies that make a real impact. Register here. EIBC members can get 15% off with code EIBC15.
- *NEW* Nov. 5: Michigan EIBC Legislative Reception — Join Michigan EIBC for a networking reception for our members, legislators, and staff at Midwest Strategy Group in Lansing. Email mieibc@mieibc.org for more information.
- Jan. 14-15: Detroit Auto Show Media and Industry Days — Michigan EIBC members will be able to take advantage of several members-only benefits, including the opportunity to register for a display on the show floor during the show’s Media & Industry Days (January 14-15) at a discount of more than 50%. You can also join us Jan. 15 for a panel on improving multi-stakeholder communication to enable EV adoption moderated by Policy Principal Sophia Schuster. Email sophia@mieibc.org to learn more.
Jobs
Send job postings to Kaei Li at kaei@mieibc.org to be featured on the newsletter. Please include a specific end date for the job posting.
- Michigan EIBC/IEI Regulatory Analyst (Remote, closes Oct. 30)
Opportunities
- Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Going PRO Talent Fund (Closes Oct. 30)
- U.S. Department of Energy Request for Information on federal action to rapidly expand grid capacity and generation to meet demand growth (Closes Nov. 21)
- Michigan Department of Transportation Draft RFP for EV Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator program released for industry review (Final RFP is anticipated in the coming weeks)
- Michigan EGLE funding (Rolling)
- Coalition for Green Capital soliciting investment proposals (Rolling)
Resources
- The State of Michigan’s 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.
- The Michigan Public Service Commission has created a websitetracking 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.
- 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.