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September 26, 2025

Newsletter: Gala recap, weatherization funding bills, 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:

    Michigan EIBC Holds 13th Annual Energy Innovators Gala

    On Sept. 24, Michigan EIBC held its 13th Annual Energy Innovators Gala at the Gem Theater in Detroit. Thank you to all who joined us!

    Former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow delivered a keynote address calling for community, innovation, and engagement to turn the tide of policy back toward clean, renewable energy. Michigan EIBC then announced this year’s awardees who demonstrated exemplary vision and service to support Michigan’s advanced energy industry.

    • Project of the Year: Jupiter Power’s Tibbets Energy Storage Facility, the first utility-scale battery energy storage system in Michigan
    • Business of the Year: Highland Electric Fleets
    • Public Official of the Year: Rep. Ranjeev Puri
    • Hall of Fame Inductees: Paul Proudfoot, Director of the Electric Reliability Division at the Michigan Public Service Commission, and Julie Baldwin, former Director of the Energy Operations Division at the Michigan Public Service Commission

    New Legislation for Weatherization Funding

    Senator Jeff Irwin (D-Senate District 15) introduced a bill Tuesday (Senate Bill 562) to help low-income Michiganders make long-lasting energy-saving improvements to their homes. A House companion bill is expected to be introduced soon. The bills, if passed, would require Michigan to allocate a minimum of 15% of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding it receives to weatherization. Michigan currently spends about 10% of its LIHEAP dollars on weatherization.

    “Energy costs are rising across the country, including in Michigan,” said Grace Michienzi, Senior Director of Policy at the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council. “Supporting more weatherization projects will not only reduce energy bills for families, but will help to grow and support energy efficiency jobs across Michigan, a sector that already supports over 76,000 jobs.”

    Read more

    Sophia Schuster Tells Lawmakers to “Stop Blaming EVs” in New Op-ed

    In a new op-ed in the Lansing State Journal, Michigan EIBC Policy Principal Sophia Schuster argues that the state legislature’s proposal to increase EV fees to fill road funding gaps are short sighted and unfair. “The reality is,” she writes, “EVs are paying their fair share, and then some.” EVs pay more in state taxes than their non-EV counterparts, drive down electricity costs for all ratepayers, and can be used to bolster reliability in the face of growing power outages. 

    “Rather than asking EVs to pay more, lawmakers should be asking how we can leverage them to serve our communities,” writes Schuster.

    Read the op-ed

    Michigan Energy News

    • Michigan EIBC member Jupiter Power and Consumers Energy open Michigan’s first operational utility-scale battery energy storage system with 100 MW and four hours of duration. (CBS 42)
    • Michigan State University researchers are developing electric tractors, with feedback from local farmers. (AP)
    • EGLE awards $1.85 million to support communities hosting solar and battery storage projects as part of the Renewable Ready Communities Awards. (MI EGLE)
    • Eleven states, including Michigan, plan to form a governor’s collaborative to work on PJM issues as some states threaten to leave PJM if they are not given a larger role in its governance. (Utility Dive)

    National Energy News

    • $29 billion in environmental and renewable energy grants awarded under the Biden administration have been canceled by the Trump administration. (Inside Climate News)
    • The House passed a bill prioritizing dispatchable power plants in interconnection queues. (Utility Dive)
    • The Department of Energy announced a “Speed to Power” initiative and seeks comments on accelerating generation and transmission development. (Utility Dive)
    • An Interior Department audit found that the Bureau of Land Management didn’t comply with regulations when assessing applications for wind and solar projects on public lands. (Reuters)
    • House Democrats introduce a bill package to accelerate power line construction, strengthen utility regulation, and restore wind and solar tax credits. (Heatmap)

    Events

    • Oct. 13-15: 2025 Resilience and Equity in the Clean Energy Sector Summit (RECESS25) — If you believe in growing the clean energy industry by removing barriers to sustainable clean energy careers; creating equitable pathways to business ownership and expansion; retrofitting the built environment to address health and economic disparities; and collective action with like-minded decision-makers and innovators, please register to attend at www.therecessconference.com. The summit, hosted by Walker-Miller Energy Services, will be held at the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center in Detroit. 
    • Oct. 14-16: 2025 Forth Roadmap 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. 
    • Oct. 16: EIBC Public Convening on VPPs — Join Michigan EIBC to discuss the opportunities to leverage rooftop solar, energy storage, demand response resources, and electric vehicle chargers to create virtual power plants. Register here.
    • *New* Oct. 27: MPSC Public Hearing on Long-Term Electric Utility Planning — The Michigan Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing on Oct. 27 in Auburn Hills to hear from electric utility customers about what factors should be considered in long-term utility planning. See event details
    • Oct. 29: Great Lakes Data, AI & Analytics Summit — This new gathering, hosted by WIT Solutions, brings the same energy, insights, and community connection to leaders across the state, with a focus on data, AI, and analytics strategies that make a real impact. Register here. EIBC members can get 15% off with code EIBC15.

    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

    Resources

    • 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 Michigan Public Service Commission has created a websitetracking 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.