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April 9, 2026

Newsletter: Consumers rate case, NEVI funds, 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:

    MPSC Issues Order in Consumers Rate Case

    On March 27, the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) issued a final order in the Consumers Energy rate case (U-21870), approving a $276 million rate increase. Michigan EIBC intervened in the case, along with the Institute for Energy Innovation and Advanced Energy United, to provide expert witness testimony on topics including virtual power plants (VPPs), demand response, and transportation electrification. 

    The Commission agreed with Michigan EIBC’s and other parties’ arguments on the benefits of VPPs, such as their “ability to be a fast-to-implement, low-cost, reliable solution to both needed distribution investments as well as generation and resource adequacy.” Given extensive support in the record on VPPs, as well as the variety of grid benefits they provide, the Commission issued a prospective warning to Consumers that “future proposed investments that fail to account for VPPs may be disallowed.”

    Consistent with Michigan EIBC’s recommendations, the Commission accepted Consumers’ EV adoption forecasts and directed the company to strengthen applicant guidelines for its direct current fast charging (DCFC) rebate program. It also ordered a DCFC cost-of-service study and a stakeholder engagement process to develop a dedicated DCFC tariff proposal, due January 31, 2027.

    Read the full order

    MDOT Announces $51 Million NEVI Authorization

    The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced that it has been authorized to start investing the remaining $51 million in the state’s discretionary National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) formula funds to accelerate the deployment of EV charging infrastructure. 

    Following a U.S. Department of Transportation proposal to raise NEVI’s domestic content requirement from 55% to 100% in February, Michigan EIBC submitted comments to the Federal Highway and Safety Administration (FHWA) urging the administration to reject the change, citing potential job losses and competitive pressure from China and Europe. While the review of the proposal is ongoing, MDOT’s recent authorization ensures Michigan can continue operating under the current, industry-supported requirements regardless of the FHWA’s final decision. MDOT plans to release its third and final RFP for NEVI formula funding in the coming months.

    Read the full MDOT NEVI authorization announcement

    Read our full comments to the FHWA

    Michigan EIBC’s Legislative Reception at the Mackinac Conference

    Thank you to our sponsors!

    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. 

    We’re excited to announce the lineup for Meeting the Surge: Powering Data Centers with Clean Energy and Storage, a panel 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.

    Register here

    Renewing Members

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    Michigan Energy News

    • Neighborhoods across Michigan are banding together to adopt solar by taking advantage of group-buy discounts. (AP)
    • The MPSC approved six energy storage contracts totaling 1,332 megawatts. (9&10 News)
    • The MPSC declined to reconsider DTE’s power contract with a data center in Saline Township. (Freep)
    • Michigan’s business incentive program SOAR created 1,846 jobs in 2025. (Bridge)
    • DTE’s proposed solar park in Midland County could power 38,700 homes. (Manistee News)
    • 63% of Michiganders blame President Trump’s policies for high energy costs. (Freep)

    National Energy News

    • The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget request eliminates billions in clean energy and environmental programming, pivoting those funds to AI and fossil fuels. (E&E)
    • As gas prices soar, U.S. drivers look to electric vehicles to save on fueling costs. (The New York Times)
    • New federal EV fee proposals would charge owners 2-3 times what gas drivers pay in federal taxes. (Electrek)
    • The Department of Energy tells a federal court that it can use emergency orders to keep coal plants open without needing those “emergencies” to be imminent. (Utility Dive)
    • A new University of Michigan study finds that vehicle-to-grid technology requires proactive grid upgrades to be fully effective. (Grist)

    Events

    • April 17: Michigan Model for Siting Renewable Energy: Policy, Implementation, and Impacts Symposium — The symposium hosted by the University of Michigan will have a morning session open to the public and an afternoon session inviting a select group of stakeholders. Complete the interest form to join the afternoon session.
    • 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 by April 22
    • *New* 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
    • 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
    • *NEW* 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.
    • *NEW* 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.

    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.

    Opportunities

    Resources