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January 29, 2026

Newsletter: AG sues Big Oil, 2025 MI Healthy Climate Report, 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:

    Attorney General Sues Big Oil Over Conspiracy to Kill Clean Energy

    Last week, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit against major fossil fuel companies accusing them of engaging in a cartel to restrict competition from clean energy and electric vehicles. Nessel alleged that the companies conspired to reduce the production of electricity from renewable sources, slow the emergence of EVs, divert capital away from renewable energy using trade associations, surveil and intimidate watchdogs and public officials, suppress information about the harms of fossil fuels, and buy renewable energy patents and then restrict their usage, among other tactics. 

    Michiganders are currently facing an energy affordability crisis, with 25% of Michigan households—or nearly 1 million families—finding their home energy burden unaffordable. Nessel alleges that the fossil fuel industry’s antitrust conspiracy has resulted in artificially high energy costs.

    Read more

    EGLE Releases 2025 MI Healthy Climate Plan Report

    The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) released its annual MI Healthy Climate Plan Report, which charts the state’s progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. According to the report, Michigan generated approximately 8,300 megawatts from renewable resources at the end of 2025, up from 7,600 megawatts in 2024. The increase comes mostly from an expansion of solar energy. 

    In the transportation sector, Michigan saw 120,917 registered EVs and plug-in hybrids in 2025, more than double what the state had in 2023. From 2024 to 2025, the number of DC fast chargers increased 84% and the number of public Level 2 chargers rose 40%. The state has also completed three NEVI stations with 79 more in progress and added 87 electric school buses to school districts in Michigan.

    In the building decarbonization space, the state’s Weatherization Assistance Program weatherized 2,553 homes from July 2024 to September 2025. Michigan also launched new funding to support home energy efficiency and electrification upgrades.

    Read the report

    Michigan EIBC 14th Annual Conference

    Join Michigan EIBC on May 6 for our 14th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing, MI! 

    Our most popular event of the year, the annual conference brings together leaders in Michigan’s advanced energy industry, utility executives, policymakers, regulators, and others  for an opportunity to network, learn about innovations in advanced energy, and get an overview on the latest policy developments. Our conference includes: main-stage panels, several break-out panels with dozens of expert panelists, presentations from energy experts, a pre-and post-reception, and plenty of time for networking. 
     

    THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!

    Please reach out to Brianna <brianna@mieibc.org> to sponsor.

    Register here

    New Members

    Click the logos to learn more

    OneEnergy develops solar energy projects across the United States in community solar, distributed generation, and large utility scale project segments.

    Renewing Members

    Michigan Energy News

    • Michigan EIBC member ITC, which plans to build hundreds of miles of transmission lines, is facing pushback from local communities. (Bridge)
    • Data center load may complicate utilities’ ability to meet renewable power standards. Michigan EIBC President Dr. Laura Sherman told Crain’s the upcoming IRPs will provide an important insight into how utilities plan to abide by them. (Crain’s Detroit)
    • Michigan EIBC Policy Director Justin Carpenter testified at a House committee hearing considering a tax on electric commercial vehicles that would contribute to road funding. (Gongwer)
    • Ann Arbor residents are collecting signatures for a ballot initiative establishing a publicly owned, 100% renewable municipal utility. (MI Advance)
    • Consumers Energy is planning a 45 megawatt battery energy storage facility on the site of a former coal plant in Hampton Township. (MLive)
    • The Michigan Department of Transportation considers a road usage charge instead of a gas tax as more drivers switch to EVs. (WILX)

    National Energy News

    • Congress passed a funding bill appropriating $3.1 billion to the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, including funding for solar and wind programs. The bill also limits DOE’s ability to cancel federal awards. A separate bill seeks to restore $879 million for EV charging infrastructure. (Utility Dive, WLNS)
    • MISO states are urging FERC to hold a stakeholder process to determine cost allocation from keeping power plants online past retirement. (Utility Dive)
    • A federal judge ruled that the Department of Transportation illegally froze $5 billion in National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) funds. (Electrek)
    • FERC upheld its approval of MISO’s fast-track interconnection process, the Expedited Resource Addition Study (ERAS). (Utility Dive)

    Events

    Michigan EIBC Members Only
    • *NEW* Feb. 11: Legislative Networking Reception — Michigan EIBC is holding a members-only reception with legislators and staff in Lansing. Register
    Open to All
    • Feb. 10: On Site: Detroit — Hosted at NewLab Detroit and designed for manufacturers, come learn about the latest news, regulations, and trends in energy, EHS, and sustainability, and network with other industry experts and professionals. Hear from Foresight’s team of industry experts as well as Corinne Graper with Uplift Agency, Kevin Budelmann with Peopledesign, and Matt Eugster with Varnum Law for an afternoon full of insights, networking, and your questions answered. Register
    • Feb. 13: University of Michigan Green Career Fair — If you are hiring full-time positions or internships in 2026, this is a great way to meet and identify early talent pipelines among some of the best and brightest in Michigan! For questions, contact Sydni Miller (sydnim@umich.edu) in the UM-SEAS Career Services office. Register
    • April 21: 2026 MI Healthy Climate Conference —This year’s conference is focused on “Advancing Climate Action Together. Register by April 13
    • May 6: Michigan EIBC Annual Conference — Our conference includes: main-stage panels, several break-out panels with dozens of expert panelists, presentations from energy experts, a pre-and post-reception, and plenty of time for networking. Register

    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. 

    Opportunities

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