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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 and Allies Defend Siting Law in Court
The Michigan Court of Appeals should reject an attempt to block the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) from implementing the law meant to streamline siting for large renewable energy and energy storage projects, Michigan EIBC, the Institute for Energy Innovation, Clean Grid Alliance and Advanced Energy United argue in a filing with the court this week.
The filing is a response to a recent motion from a group of counties and townships that asked the court to overturn the MPSC’s rules to implement Public Act 233 and stay the rules while this case is pending.
Our filing argues that the attempt to stay the implementation of the law is antidemocratic because it is in denial of the legislature’s decision to pass the law. The counties and townships “collectively seek from this Court what they failed to obtain from the Legislature and at the ballot box: discretion to continue to obstruct the rights of individual landowners and energy project developers to cooperate freely and responsibly to construct and commercially operate new renewable energy and energy storage facilities,” the filing states.
Furthermore, while the counties and townships cannot show that there have been any harms from the MPSC’s action, which has not been used for a single project yet, staying the rules would cause harm to project developers who would be “at risk of losing otherwise viable projects simply because timelines for generator interconnection, permitting and financing do not line up,” the filing argues. In turn, the loss of any renewable energy or energy storage projects could then create “challenges to generation resource adequacy” in Michigan.
The MPSC and a group of supportive landowners also responded in opposition to the request for an immediate stay. The court is expected to make a decision on this issue in the coming weeks.
IEI Holds Grid Resilience Education Event in Lansing
To help state lawmakers and their staff better understand the potential for distributed energy resources and microgrids to shore up the grid, on Dec. 4 the Institute for Energy Innovation held an Energy 101 session on “Minifridges, Microgrids, and MISO: Maintaining Grid Resilience at Scale” in Lansing.
After a presentation from Michigan EIBC President Laura Sherman, the event featured a panel discussion moderated by Michigan EIBC Director of Policy Justin Carpenter, with the following panelists representing Michigan EIBC member companies:
- Monica Batra-Shrader, Enchanted Rock
- Angela Kassahun, Utilidata
- Priya Machi, GM Energy
- Bronte Payne, Sunrun
Save the Date April 2, 2025, for the 13th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference
Please mark your calendars for April 2, 2025, the date we will be holding the 13th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing! Read about last year’s conference here, and stay tuned for more information about registration coming soon!
Michigan Energy News
- The MPSC approves a power purchase agreement between Consumers Energy and a 100 MW/400 MWh battery storage system being built in Washtenaw County by Voyager Energy Storage LLC, which is operated by Michigan EIBC member Jupiter Power.
- WDET covers Michigan EIBC’s and Clean Fuels Michigan’s recently-released transportation electrification roadmap.
- Michigan-based LuxWall is trying to increase home energy efficiency by making and selling vacuum-sealed glass windows with the help of a federal grant.
- The Michigan Economic Development Corporation announces a $700,000 strategic investment grant to help Western Michigan University “develop a robust talent pipeline for Michigan’s advanced manufacturing sector, ultimately aiming to fill the talent gap focused on semiconductors and electric vehicles.”
National Energy News
- The U.S. Department of the Interior issues the final permit needed for the 2-GW Maryland Offshore Wind Project to begin construction.
- For grid decarbonization, so-called “clean firm” resources are not a “silver bullet” and “may be best considered as part of a broader generation portfolio that relies on much lower cost wind and solar most of the time,” Energy Innovation Senior Policy Analyst Michelle Solomon writes in Utility Dive.
- Michigan EIBC member Meta issues a request for proposals for 1 GW to 4 GW of new nuclear capacity by the early 2030s.
- It is unclear if several recent loan guarantees from the U.S. Department of Energy will survive the Trump administration.
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.
Elevate
Decarbonization Project Manager, Community Programs (MI). Location: Michigan.
Elevate’s Decarbonization Project Manager on the Community Programs – Michigan Team is integral in advancing Elevate’s goal of decarbonizing affordable housing and non-profit buildings. The Decarbonization Project Manager, Community Programs also contributes to various projects aimed at improving building performance and promoting clean energy solutions. This position leads and executes assignments in specialized technical domains, working collaboratively with team members to achieve our mission and commitment exceptional project delivery while demonstrating Elevate’s organizational values, commitment to equity, and principles of partnership
Senior Project Consultant, Community Consulting. Location: Chicago.
The Senior Project Consultant, Community Consulting works with communities to guide the implementation of projects and programs, maintains client relationships, and assists with program development for initiatives related to affordable housing and sustainable communities with an emphasis on energy and water efficiency, renewable energy, decarbonization, and community resilience. Projects focus on providing technical assistance to communities to help them achieve their sustainability goals by identifying funding opportunities, connecting them to technical resources, and providing expertise in policy and program design centered on equity, economic inclusion, and community and stakeholder engagement. This position requires experience with community engagement best practices and familiarity with building retrofit programs, building science practices, and their connection with climate equity. The Senior Project Consultant, Community Consulting collaborates with others in the National Strategic Engagement team and with core service departments of Elevate, as well as national partner organizations.
Michigan and National Energy Events
The 13th Annual Michigan Energy Innovators Conference will be held at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing on April 2. Tickets will be available soon.
The University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) is holding a Green Career Fair on Jan. 31, 2025. Employers and students can register here.
Opportunities
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.
Consumers Energy has released the RFP package for the 2024 IRP for Solar Generation Projects. Project qualification applications are due Dec. 12.
Michigan Saves is seeking financial experts to support the implementation of funding through the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). This RFP invites organizations or individuals with expertise in financial advising, underwriting, and related services to help advance equitable clean energy solutions across Michigan. Proposals are due by Jan. 3, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST.
Proposals are due Feb. 7, 2025 for Round 2 of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.
Michigan EGLE is offering at least $320,000 in funding MI Solar Communities-MI Solar Access Program. Applications will be accepted through March 31, 2025, or when funding is expended, whichever comes first. Find the request for proposals for MI Solar Access here.
Michigan EGLE has released an RFP for grants from its Clean Energy Workforce Development Program. The application deadline is July 30, 2025.
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.
RMI is looking for a regulatory expert to join its electricity team and help implement regulatory policies to ensure the energy transition is affordable for all. 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.