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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 Urges State Legislature to Act on Budget Priorities
On June 11, the Institute for Energy Innovation held a Lunch and Learn legislative education session at the Anderson House Office Building in Lansing. The event highlighted the importance of investing in the advanced energy sector and communities and enabling small business, municipal, and county fleet electrification across the state at times of instability. Two ways for the legislature to make those investments are first, to authorize $129.1 million in federal funding for the Renewable Ready Communities Program and second to provide additional funding for and updates to the Clean Fuel and Charging Infrastructure Grant Program.
The Renewable Ready Communities Program has already spent $24.3 million in previously authorized state funding, with 35, mostly rural, local governments receiving awards for hosting energy projects. Without authorization from the legislature, Michigan’s communities stand to lose $129.1 million in federal funding (with no state match requirement) that would otherwise be available to help support additional local investments. Click here for a fact sheet about the Renewable Ready Communities Program.
Currently, the Clean Fuel and Charging Infrastructure Program is designed to expand charging infrastructure deployment for multi-family housing, public, and fleet applications. Updating the program to allow for fleet vehicle purchases and providing additional funding would unlock opportunities for vehicle electrification in rural and underserved communities and allow a broader, more efficient deployment of program funds across the state. Click here for a fact sheet about the Clean Fuel and Charging Infrastructure Program.
Alamo Valley Solar, Kalamazoo Mayor and Others Talk Importance of Clean Energy Tax Credits
Last week, Kalamazoo Mayor David Anderson, Michigan EIBC member Alamo Valley Solar Business Development Manager Michael Cooper, state Sen. Sean McCann, state Rep. Julie Rogers and United Agrivoltaics Heartland Alliance Executive Director Samantha Craig held a press conference in Kalamazoo where they urged Michigan’s congressional delegation to preserve clean energy tax credits.
Audio from the event is available through a local news report.
“Even before federal tax credits lowered their costs by 30 to 88 percent, renewable energy sources like solar were already the most affordable source of electricity,” Cooper said. “Now, it’s not just clean—it’s the smartest economic choice we can make. To rein in rising energy bills for Michigan families, we must accelerate the buildout of low-cost solar and connect it to the grid quickly. That’s how we deliver reliable, homegrown energy that keeps prices down and powers economic growth.”
Alamo Valley Solar has developed solar projects at the sites of commercial, industrial and agricultural customers across the state, including at Arrow Farms and Nobel Family Dairy in Van Buren County, next to Kalamazoo.
Join Michigan EIBC for our 13th Annual Energy Innovators Gala!
Michigan EIBC is excited to welcome our members, Michigan legislators and state officials, and the general public to our 13th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Gala on September 24th at the Gem Theatre in Detroit. Our gala is a wonderful opportunity to network with colleagues, policymakers, and industry experts, all while celebrating the individuals and businesses who succeeded in growing Michigan’s advanced energy sector. Click here for more event information and to purchase tickets.
THANK YOU TO OUR CURRENT SPONSORS!
Sponsorship opportunities are available, please reach out to Brianna <brianna@mieibc.org> to sponsor.
TERAWATT
GIGAWATT
MEGAWATT
KILOWATT
the WATT
New Member
Nautilus Solar Energy®, LLC is a leading community solar company, providing clean energy to residential and commercial customers in local communities. With over 475 megawatts of solar capacity in operation, Nautilus is the owner-operator of solar farms in 12 states and is responsible for financing, development, construction, and maintenance for the lifetime of these projects. Founded in 2006, Nautilus has helped shape the future of solar to provide an equitable and affordable renewable energy choice for everyone.
Renewing Members
Michigan based solar installation company offering comprehensive solar energy solutions and professional electrical services for homes and businesses.
Founded in 2017, PLG is led by career financial and commercial real estate professionals and has established itself as a leading direct PACE lender nationwide.
Michigan Energy News
- Gov. Whitmer may be selecting a new commissioner to replace Alessandra Carreon on the Michigan Public Service Commission.
- Losing federal solar credits “would devastate the solar industry” in Michigan, Michigan EIBC member CBS Solar President Allan O’Shea says in a story from Inside Climate News.
- Michigan EIBC member General Motors announces $4 billion in new investments at three U.S. production facilities, including the Orion Assembly Plant, and that its Factory Zero in Hamtramck “will be the dedicated assembly location” for several EVs.
- Consumers Energy’s new $436 million rate increase request is the largest for the utility in at least 20 years, MLive reports.
- The Trump administration’s order to keep the Campbell coal plant online sets a precedent that could also be used to keep the Monroe coal plant running.
- A proposed bill could make it harder for new transmission lines to be built.
National Energy News
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposes to repeal Biden administration rules on greenhouse gas and mercury emissions.
- The market monitor for Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) says that reliability risks for the region have been overstated.
- California regulators reject proposed rules that would have encouraged a transition to electric heat pumps.
Job Board
Attention Michigan EIBC members: if you have a job announcement you would like in the newsletter, please send a paragraph describing the position and a link to apply to Matt Bandyk at matt@mieibc.org. Please include in the email a specific end date for the job posting.
Michigan and National Energy Events
Michigan EIBC is excited to welcome our members, Michigan legislators and state officials, and the general public to our 13th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Gala on Sept. 24 at the Gem Theatre in Detroit. For more event information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Michigan EIBC is proud to support the 2025 Forth Roadmap Conference as a Community Partner! Join us Oct. 14-16, 2025 in Detroit at the nation’s leading electric transportation conference. Connect with industry leaders, explore emerging trends, and shape the future of mobility. Roadmap 2025 is where policymakers, utilities, automakers, and industry innovators come together to advance clean transportation solutions. Use MEIBC75 for $75 off full conference tickets. Find out more and register at roadmapforth.org. We hope to see you there!
Opportunities
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has an interest form for community-based organizations interested in partnering with the MI Solar for All program to host in-person community meetings to engage their communities in learning more about solar energy. The form closes the night of June 13.The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has announced the first in a series of Requests for Proposals, offering $5 million in initial funding to support the deployment of non-public Level 2 alternating current electric vehicle charging stations at existing multifamily housing units. Individual grant awards are capped at $300,000, with applicants required to provide a minimum 30% match of the total requested funds if the project is outside an environmental justice community. Find the RFP here. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis until all funds are allocated.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) has announced several new programs with funding available for energy-related projects, including the Agriculture and Rural Business Energy Incentive Program, the Small Manufacturers Retooling Program, the Grid Resiliency Program, the Water Energy Nexus Program and the Sponsorship Program.
The Coalition for Green Capital (CGC) has an open, rolling solicitation seeking proposals for investment from project developers, sponsors, communities, private equity firms, financial intermediaries, co-lenders or others. Find out more information here.
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 Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) has just announced host institutions for the 2025/2026 Energy Innovators Fellowship. The fellowship sponsors individuals to work full-time for 1-2 years at host institutions such as Public Utility Commissions and State Energy Offices across the country in advancing solutions that will help modernize the power system, improve energy infrastructure for transportation and industry, and make the U.S. power system more reliable, affordable, and resilient. The application deadline is June 6.
Michigan EIBC member Centrepolis Accelerator has just announced a new round of the Make it in Michigan Prototyping Grant program offers funding to promising mobility and electrification technology companies, supporting their product development in collaboration with Michigan-based firms. This program is committed to advancing innovation across Michigan’s mobility and electrification sectors, emphasizing opportunities for startups, established firms, and disadvantaged businesses in distressed or rural communities, as well as companies relocating or expanding within Michigan. Learn more here. The deadline to apply is July 7.
Consumers Energy has announced its 2025 All-Source RFP. Learn more here. The application deadline is July 15.
Michigan EGLE has released an RFP for grants from its Clean Energy Workforce Development Program. The application deadline is July 30.
Michigan State University’s Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (AFRE) is seeking a full-time Associate Professor (FT) to serve as the Director of the Institute of Public Utilities (IPU). Find out more about this position here.
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 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.
Michigan EGLE is launching the Renewables Ready Communities Award (RRCA), which makes Michigan municipalities that have, on or after October 1, 2023, begun physically hosting and/or performing local permitting for any portion of an eligible renewable energy project eligible for awards of $5,000 per MW. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are depleted and there is no specific deadline. More information on this opportunity can be found on the RRCA Webpage.