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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:
Clean Energy Repeal Bills Advance in MI House
The House GOP’s bill package rolling back Michigan’s 2023 clean energy laws was voted out of committee this week, along party lines. The bills will advance to the full House of Representatives, though it is unlikely they will get much traction in the Senate. Michigan EIBC and our members submitted cards of opposition to the committee before the vote.
Michigan EIBC’s Policy Director Justin Carpenter issued the following statement: “The House plan to repeal Michigan’s 2023 clean energy laws is not a serious solution to the affordability crisis. Clean energy is the cheapest, quickest to deploy form of generation to meet our electricity needs. We also need to take advantage of resources that already exist within our homes and communities including battery storage at homes, energy efficiency, and community solar. Repealing the clean energy lawswill only cut jobs, slow GDP growth, and keep monthly bills high. Michigan EIBC is committed to working with anyone with a serious interest in addressing the energy affordability crisis.”
DTE Requests a $474 Million Rate Increase
DTE Energy filed its 2026 rate case this week requesting a $474.3 million increase, which, if approved, will raise residential rates by 9.7%. The filing includes a 10.25% return on equity request. This follows an announcement by DTE that it will pause rate hikes for the following two years so long as future data centers are approved by regulators and the Saline Township one comes online by the end of 2027. The Michigan Attorney General expressed skepticism at this proposal, calling it a “ransom note.”
DTE Energy also filed its Transportation Electrification Plan for 2027-2031, where it projected EV growth in its service territory to be nearly half a million by 2031. The company stated that 195,000 additional chargers are needed in Southeast Michigan to support this growth, and plans to make rebates and make-ready investments available for about 40,000 of those chargers. DTE proposed significant changes to improve program accessibility across a wider range of customers. These investments are projected to provide about $1.8 billion in net rate relief for all DTE customers by 2031.
Michigan EIBC 14th Annual Conference
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.
We’re excited to announce the lineup for a members-only regulatory session, Important Cases and Vital Wins at the conference. Check out the rest of the agenda here.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!
Please reach out to Brianna <brianna@mieibc.org> to sponsor.
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Michigan Energy News
- The Citizens Utility Board of Michigan appealed the MPSC rate hike, arguing the approved return on equity is excessive. (Gongwer)
- Health concerns are pushing a backlash against solar farms. (MI Advance)
- Michigan utilities shut off services at higher rates than neighboring states in 2024. (MLive)
- Gubernatorial candidate Perry Johnson released his energy platform. (Johnson)
National Energy News
- House Republicans introduce a bill to restore clean energy tax credits for wind, solar, and other clean energy sources. (Utility Dive)
- Advocates hope the upcoming Farm Bill will revive the Rural Energy for America Program, which helps farmers go solar. (Canary Media)
- Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) calls for permitting reform in a new op-ed. (WaPo)
- U.S. Geological Survey releases report citing enough lithium stores in Appalachia to support 130 million electric vehicles or 1.6 million grid-scale batteries (Transport Topics)
Events
- May 7: Charting Michigan’s Data Center Future Together — The University of Michigan is hosting a convening that brings together state and local leaders, community groups, the private sector, and researchers to discuss data center development in Michigan. Register by April 22
- *NEW* May 14: Michigan Energy Summit hosted by MiGBC — The Michigan Energy Summit will be hosted at the Lansing Center and feature keynote speaker Vincent Martinez, CEO of Architecture 2030. Come celebrate this year’s Michigan Battle of the Buildings award winners and toast to their energy accomplishments! Learn more and register here.
- May 15: Workers Gala — The Workforce Development Institute’s Workers Gala will celebrate workers and labor allies, and raise funds for apprenticeship readiness programs across Michigan. Get tickets
- May 27-28: IES Energy Symposium 2026 — Join the University of Michigan’s Institute for Energy Solutions to discuss opportunities in electricity grid technology and computation, biotechnology for energy feedstocks, critical minerals, geothermal systems, data centers, behavioral challenges in energy, and more. More details will be added to the symposium website as they become available. Registration is free but limited due to the size of the event space.
- May 28: Michigan EIBC Legislative Reception — Join Michigan EIBC for a legislative reception following the Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference. See event details here. No registration necessary.
- June 10: Institute for Energy Innovation Energy 101 — Come learn about how advanced energy and mobility technologies stem the tide of rising energy bills while improving energy resiliency and reliability. For Michigan EIBC members and legislators/staff only, please email mieibc@mieibc.org for more information.
Jobs
If you have a job announcement you would like in the newsletter, please send the position and a link to apply to Kaei Li at kaei@mieibc.org. Please include in the email a specific end date for the job posting.
- *NEW* Elevate Construction Project Manager, National Strategic Engagement Team (MI)
- *NEW* Elevate Senior Technical Lead, National Strategic Engagement Team (WI)
Opportunities
- MI Healthy Climate Challenge #4 on industrial decarbonization (Letters of intent due May 19)
- 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 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
- EGLE RETAP and DOE’s Onsite TAP can assist with assessing the suitability of a various clean energy projects for Michigan businesses
- MSU’s ITAC program and EGLE RETAP can assist businesses with energy efficiency audits and recommendations
- 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
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources best practices for solar 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 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.