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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:
Public Convening on Fleet Electrification To Be Held May 7 Near Detroit
On May 7, join Michigan EIBC and Clean Fuels Michigan for a public convening to discuss the unique considerations required for states, municipalities, and businesses to electrify their fleets. The event will take place at the headquarters of Michigan EIBC member Bollinger Motors in Oak Park. During this event, we will explore the diverse needs of fleets, how fleet operators can benefit from electrification, opportunities to establish fleet incentive and financing programs, and more. First come, first serve for a post-event ‘Ride and Drive’ courtesy of Bollinger Motors (limited to the first 15 registrants).
Join The Michigan EIBC Team at EGLE’s MI Healthy Climate Conference
Leading voices in advanced energy and beyond – including the Michigan EIBC team – will be speaking in two weeks at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s (EGLE) MI Healthy Climate Conference, taking place April 22-23 at Huntington Place in Detroit. Several Michigan EIBC staff and Michigan EIBC members will be participating as speakers including:
April 22
Dr. Laura Sherman, President of Michigan EIBC, will present “Powering Michigan’s Future: Cleaning the Electric Grid.”
April 23
Justin Carpenter, Director of Policy, will moderate a panel discussion titled “Achieving 60% Renewable Energy: Developer and Manufacturing Perspectives,” featuring:
- Matthew Wagner, DTE Energy
- Chris Kunkle, Michigan EIBC member Apex Clean Energy
- Elise Matz, Michigan EIBC member Circle Power
Sophia Schuster, Policy Principal, will speak on the “Driving Clean Transportation” panel alongside:
- Jane McCurry, Clean Fuels Michigan
- Charles Griffith, Ecology Center
- Neal Foley, DTE Energy
Registration closes this Sunday, April 13. Find out more here. We hope to see you there!
New Member
Daikin is a global leader and manufacturer of HVAC equipment for residential, commercial, and industrial applications, and aims to help society by emphasizing equipment that will aid in decarbonization and electrification.
Renewing Members
Michigan Biomass is a business coalition founded in 2007 to advocate for the state’s grid-connected, wood-fired power plants – facilities constructed between 1985 and 1994. Energy recovered from wood byproducts of sustainable forestry and forest products manufacturing is one of the state’s leading providers of Renewable Energy Credits under Michigan’s Renewable Portfolio Standards. Biomass energy is power generation that is always on, so it can operate when intermittent resources are unavailable. Biomass power is baseload power that backs up intermittent generation, displaces similar fossil fuel generation, and provides significant technical support to the grid. The intrinsic values of biomass power include jobs and rural economies, markets for low- and no-value wood fiber, services to forest health and stewardship activities, mitigation of greenhouse gases through offsets of decomposition and fossil fuels, support of the state’s electricity transmission system, and communities that rely on forest resources for livelihoods and quality of life.
Syncarpha Capital was founded in 2009 to capitalize on the tremendous opportunities in the alternative energy sector and to create a vehicle that focuses on developing, owning and operating commercial and utility scale solar photovoltaic (“PV”) systems throughout the US. Our goal is to remove the roadblocks to widespread adoption of solar energy by utilities and commercial and government electricity buyers — as well as residential customers through our new community solar offerings.
Michigan Energy News
- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel criticizes Consumers Energy for announcing a rate increase request just days after its last rate increase was approved by regulators.
- Inside Climate News profiles Public Act 233, the law to streamline siting for large renewable energy and energy storage projects.
- A letter to the editor in the Detroit News urges U.S. Rep. John James “to stand firm in defending Michigan’s clean energy leadership.”
National Energy News
- The Trump administration cuts the entire staff of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that administers the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
- What would be the largest gas-fired power plant in the country is being planned to serve a potential data center campus in Pennsylvania.
- A recent poll finds strong bipartisan support for federal EV incentives.
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 Department of Health and Human Services
State Assistant Administrator 15 – Climate and Environment Policy Advisor. Location: Lansing.
This position works for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and is detailed within the Governor’s policy division as a Climate and Environment Policy Advisor. The incumbent manages issues in these areas, especially how they intersect with energy, natural resources, and agriculture. This position would serve as a policy advisor and project manager on existing and new initiatives in this issue space.
Michigan and National Energy Events
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy’s (EGLE) MI Healthy Climate Conference is taking place April 22-23 at the Huntington Place in Detroit. Find out more 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 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 Electrification Coalition is calling on American businesses, trade associations, and workforce development organizations to urge the federal government to support the domestic EV manufacturing industry by maintaining clean vehicle tax policies and grants to continue to incentivize private investment. Read the letter here and fill out the form to add your organization as a signatory.
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.
Michigan Clean Energy Leaders (MCEL) has opened applications for its next cohort! A fellowship program and network, MCEL convenes leaders to build relationships, share knowledge and skills, and nurture collaboration to accelerate Michigan’s clean energy transition. MCEL is seeking nominees — diverse in identity, background, geography and industry — who are in the first 10-15 years of a career in clean energy. Please visit micleanenergyleaders.com today to learn more! Apply by April 28.
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.