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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:
Governor Whitmer Releases FY27 Budget Proposal
This week Governor Gretchen Whitmer released her last budget recommendation as governor. The $88.1 billion FY27 proposal focuses on affordability, education, and health care. It includes $59.4 million for business attraction and community revitalization programs, $15.7 million for entrepreneurship programming, and $429.1 million for workforce development programs and grants. The Governor’s supplemental budget request includes $4.4 million for energy efficient heavy-duty vehicles.
Michigan EIBC will continue to advocate for advanced energy priorities until a final budget is reached.
EGLE Announces $3.87 Million in Renewables Ready Communities Awards
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) announced $3.87 million in grants for nine communities hosting solar and battery storage projects as part of the Renewables Ready Communities Award (RRCA).
Michigan EIBC advocated for RRCA funding in past budgetary cycles, and is pleased to see the program benefiting communities across the state. RRCA incentivizes communities to host clean energy projects and provides flexible funding to support local government priorities. The newest round of RRCA funding will go towards the ambulance and fire department in Newburg Township, road upgrades in Lawrence Township, among others—all while supporting projects that will deliver clean energy to residents and businesses.
Join Us for a Public Convening on Clean, Safe, and Affordable Homes
Join Michigan EIBC for a public convening to learn about IEI’s new roadmap: “Clean, Safe, and Affordable: A Policy Roadmap for Efficient and All-Electric Homes in Michigan.” The roadmap charts a course to meeting statewide building decarbonization goals by providing policy recommendations to enable energy efficiency and building electrification and will be released in partnership with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the Institute for Energy Innovation, and 5 Lakes Energy. Following the discussion, please join us for a tour from Habitat for Humanity of Kent County of an all-electric home.
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.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!
Please reach out to Brianna <brianna@mieibc.org> to sponsor.
New Members
Click logos to learn more
Dimension Energy develops, owns, and operates clean energy projects that tap into existing infrastructure, generate power where it is needed, and provide low-cost clean electricity to surrounding communities.
Midwest geothermal is the nation’s leading provider of geothermal drilling services, offering turnkey commercial and residential system design and ground loop installation.
Renewing Members
Michigan Energy News
- Attorney General Nessel filed a motion with the MPSC to reopen DTE’s special contract with the Saline data center. (Planet Detroit)
- Consumers Energy is planning more than $17 billion in generation, distribution, and other capital spending over the next five years. (Utility Dive)
- Consumers Energy is close to finalizing terms with an unnamed 1 GW data center, and is in “advanced talks” with a second data center. (MLive)
- Michigan labor unions launched the Michigan Climate Jobs Coalition to build a worker-led clean energy future. (Solar Power World)
- Jamie Racklyeft of the Michigan Electric Vehicle Alliance writes that EVs in 2026 are “a reset, not a retreat” in an opinion piece. (Bridge)
- State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky says the war on clean energy is driving up costs in a new op-ed. (Detroit News)
National Energy News
- President Trump signed budget bills providing $4.05 billion for LIHEAP and $329 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program. (Utility Dive)
- 51% of Republican-leaning voters favor utility-scale solar, according to a new poll from First Solar. (Utility Dive)
- Chinese electric automaker BYD sues the U.S. over tariffs and requests refunds. (Reuters)
- The Trump administration rescinds the 2009 EPA endangerment finding, making EPA no longer authorized to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. (CBS)
- The U.S. Department of Transportation proposes restrictive domestic manufacturing requirements for federally funded EV charging stations (Politico)
Events
- *NEW* March 3: Michigan EIBC Public Convening: Clean, Safe, and Affordable Homes — learn about IEI’s new roadmap, “Clean, Safe, and Affordable: A Policy Roadmap for Efficient and All-Electric Homes in Michigan,” and join us for a tour from Habitat for Humanity of Kent County of an all-electric home. Register
- 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
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.
- *NEW* Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Climate Action Officer (Closes Feb. 24)
Opportunities
- City of Ann Arbor’s Sustainable Energy Utility RFP for 100-150 residential solar + BESS systems (Closes Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. ET)
- Michigan Economic Development Corporation Michigan Mobility Funding Platform grants (Round 1 closes Feb. 27)
- MI Healthy Climate Challenge #3: Green Lending (Closes March 22)
- 2026 EGLE NextCycle Michigan Circular Economy Grants (Closes March 31)
- Sponsors and donations needed to 3x impact of the HARVEST Project — a collaboration with United Agrivoltaics Heartland Alliance, UMich SEAS, and MSU Extension — innovative Masters student cohort working on real-world land use and community challenges faced by solar and farmers. Sponsor a case study while gaining visibility and tailored insights!
- *NEW* EGLE RFP for Clean Fuel & Charging Infrastructure Program-Public Charging (Rolling)
- Sustainable States Network RFQ for Build America, Buy America (BABA)-Compliant Charging Equipment (Rolling)
- Michigan EGLE funding (Rolling)
- Coalition for Green Capital soliciting investment proposals(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 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 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.