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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:
Utility EV Rebate Programs Need Proactive Outreach
Michigan EIBC’s recent testimonies in DTE and Consumers Energy rate cases highlight the need for proactive education and outreach campaigns to increase uptake of utility and state EV rebate programs. Utility programs are essential to enabling EV adoption, but there remain opportunities to improve education and outreach programs to more effectively reach potential customers. Automakers, auto dealers, charging companies, utilities, and community leaders all need to work together to ensure EV program information reaches customers.
Policy Principal Sophia Schuster will be bringing these critical stakeholders together at the Detroit Auto Show on Jan. 15. Schuster will be hosting a panel focused on strengthening this network and executing best practice communication strategies to implement transportation electrification programs and enable EV adoption.
Safe Harboring Tax Credits
Michigan EIBC members are invited to a webinar on November 13 with the Michigan Infrastructure Office Technical Assistance Center (MIO TAC), in partnership with the Michigan Climate Investment Hub. The webinar is focused on:
- Upcoming changes to federal tax credit rules and what Safe Harbor means for projects under 1.5 MW
- Financing opportunities for clean energy projects, including how to access below-market rates and how to get projects in a “deal room” with prospective funders
If you’re interested in attending and not yet a member, email mieibc@mieibc.org.
Renewing Members
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Michigan Energy News
- DTE signed an agreement to serve a 1.4 GW data center, and plans to invest $30 billion in generation, distribution and other infrastructure in the next five years. (Utility Dive)
- Consumers proposes 15-year contracts for data center customers as residents worry data centers will slow clean energy progress. (Bridge)
- Ford and DTE Energy launched a vehicle-to-grid pilot program to allow some EV owners to transfer their EV battery power to their homes and reduce electricity usage during peak demand. (Detroit News)
- Detroit launched its first Solar Neighborhoods project at a 42-acre site in Van Dyke Lynch, the first of five planned solar fields. (MI Public)
- Michigan EIBC member GM laid off 3,400 workers at EV plants, including one in Detroit. (Detroit News)
National Energy News
- The Department of Energy directs FERC’s to initiate rulemaking to speed up large load interconnections, expanding FERC’s authority. (Utility Dive)
- Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. ordered the CDC to study the health effects of offshore wind farms. (Bloomberg)
- The retail price of electricity for residential customers increased more than 6% in August compared to last year. (Utility Dive)
- China relaxes its latest export controls on rare earths for a year as part of a trade truce with President Trump. (NYT)
Events
OPEN TO EVERYONE
- *NEW* Nov. 3: Michigan Home Energy Rebates (MiHER) Program Webinar — The webinar will include presentations from EGLE and Walker-Miller Energy Services on the benefits of getting involved with MiHER and the steps to become certified. It will also feature a participating MiHER contractor to discuss their experience with the program, share tips for getting involved, and answer audience questions. Register here.
- *NEW* Nov. 12: Clean Fuels Michigan Summit — Hosted at the University of Michigan, this half-day conference will feature thought-provoking panels, behind-the-scenes tours, and dynamic networking designed to spark collaboration. Register here.
- Jan. 15: Detroit Auto Show Media and Industry Days Panel — Michigan EIBC Policy Principal Sophia Schuster is moderating a panel on improving multi-stakeholder communication to enable EV adoption. Join us! Get tickets here.
FOR MICHIGAN EIBC MEMBERS ONLY
- 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.
- *NEW* Nov. 13: Clean Energy Tax Credit Webinar for Project Developers — The Michigan Infrastructure Office Technical Assistance Center (MIO TAC) and the Michigan Climate Investment Hub are hosting a webinar focused on upcoming changes to federal tax credit rules and financing opportunities for clean energy projects.
- 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%. 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
- 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.