Latest news with #MIHealthyClimateConference
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Developers and advocates lay out methods for meeting Whitmer's 60% clean energy goal
Solar panels in Grand Ledge | Laina G. Stebbins As Michigan works to build out its clean energy infrastructure to meet its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040, panelists at the 2025 MI Healthy Climate Conference sat down to discuss the steps — and the hurdles — in achieving Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's goal of generating 60% of the state's power from renewables by 2030. When looking at the biggest challenges in shifting Michigan's energy grid away from fossil fuels to sources like wind and solar, energy developers and solar energy proponents focused on community sentiments as the biggest stumbling block. Chris Kunkle, the vice president of government affairs for Virginia-based Apex Clean Energy, said the clean energy industry is facing a lot of headwinds from the federal government particularly during a time when energy demand is rising quickly. However, energy policy is largely determined at the state level, Kunkle said, with Michigan's 2023 clean energy package helping to alleviate previous difficulties in securing permits, allowing energy developers to pursue permitting at the state level if a municipality fails to approve or deny their application within a timely manner, or if local zoning boards either adopt standards stricter than the health and safety standards outlined in the law, or if they deny an application that complies with the standards outlined in the law. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'We were thrilled to see the state Legislature come up with a really novel approach where you're required to try to go through the local process — and quite prescriptive about what that looks like —and if that falls apart for whatever reason, there's an alternative route to go through the state and receive a permit,' Kunkle said. But, just like renewable developments in rural communities, these bills were hotly debated in the Legislature, as Republicans argued they stripped away local control in the zoning process. While the bills ultimately passed along party lines in the previous Democratic-led House and Senate, Republicans have since taken control of the House and Rep. Gregory Alexander (R-Carsonville) has introduced a pair of bills, HB 4027 and HB 4028, to repeal the changes to the permitting process. 'Local governments and residents know their areas better than the state,' Alexander said in a press release. 'They craft policies with this in mind, and people expect their elected local officials to make decisions for their communities and their families with their input at the forefront. When unelected state bureaucrats to come in, cast local input aside and impose projects onto communities, it's a textbook example of government overreach. Our locals should be able to make decisions on property use for themselves, and these bills re-establish this critical element.' Elise Matz, the vice president of public affairs for Circle Power, said that public acceptance of renewables was a challenge within the state, emphasizing the importance of engaging with the community on the benefits the project could bring. Matt Wagner, the manager of renewable energy development for DTE Energy, one of the state's largest energy companies, said that the best advertisement for a company's next clean energy project is the last project it finished. 'If those projects go well, you know, we can point to them. It's not just us pointing to them, it's other communities and leaders saying, 'Hey, you know, these guys did a great project over here. You can trust them.' That's our goal,' Wagner said. On another panel, John Freeman, executive director of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association, pointed to three main stumbling blocks in encouraging clean energy adoption: education, affordability and the disparity in access. 'People are inherently nervous about big social change, and there's nothing fundamentally bigger than transitioning from our current energy system to one that's built around renewable energy. So we have to do a lot of education to make people feel comfortable with this change,' Freeman said, later pointing to the association's efforts in teaching local governments how to develop a sustainability plan and bringing local officials up to speed on the benefits solar energy systems can bring to a community. Ali Dirul, the chief executive officer of Ryter Cooperative Industries, which helps design and build solar energy systems, said oftentimes solar developments are done to communities, instead of with them. 'A large solar farm is just plotted in the middle of somebody's recreation area and then, you know, there's upheaval, because it's like anything, if somebody just slapped something in the back of your backyard, you'd ask some questions,' Dirul said. Community members are the ones who know what they need in their neighborhoods, Dirul noted, creating an opportunity for developers, funders, foundations and foundations to engage with them so that the community can actually benefit. In the developers panel, the speakers highlighted Michigan's renewable ready communities award, which provides communities who adopt renewable energy with $5,000 per megawatt of capacity to a maximum of $3 million as a major motivator for communities. However, renewable energy may remain inaccessible to some families, Dirul said, using renters, people who live in multifamily homes, and those who do not have the money upfront for these kinds of projects as an example. One way to address these concerns is through community solar, Freeman said, allowing residents to buy or subscribe to individual solar panels in an array in order to save money on their energy bills due to the energy generated by the panels. However, these arrangements do not currently have a legal framework in Michigan, with Freeman calling for lawmakers to enact a community solar law. On the other panel, Kunkle further emphasized the impact that federal tariffs would have on procuring materials for battery storage and other clean energy efforts. Wagner similarly addressed concerns with navigating the supply chain as President Donald Trump implements and pauses tariffs. 'When you're ordering, literally, in some cases, not just tens of millions, but hundreds of millions of dollars of equipment, it's kind of hard to be nimble and do that in a pause,' Wagner said. 'DTE was fortunate to get a lot of infrastructure in early and we warehoused it. We had no idea how smart we look now,' Wagner said, later noting that this was only a short term solution, with clean energy developers in need of more domestic supply. Kunkle also emphasized the importance of retaining clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, which face an uncertain future as Trump works to roll back climate efforts implemented under former President Joe Biden. 'If you do that, the price of energy goes up,' Kunkle said, explaining that companies who have committed to building out additional energy resources will still need to procure those resources even as prices increase. Both panels also discussed workforce development needs, and ways to cultivate clean energy jobs within Michigan communities and ensure that the energy workforce sees a just transition. Matz noted Circle Power's strong relationship with the building trade workers in the Upper Peninsula, who she said served as major advocates for renewable energy efforts and helped change sentiments on a project from something that may or may not work, to something that is real and will be constructed safely. Wagner called for efforts to encourage renewable energy careers, noting that DTE partners with technical colleges across the state, noting that these jobs could help keep families together as young people look for opportunities out of Michigan. '[Parents] hated seeing their kids move away from Bad Axe or move away from other rural communities. It's like, 'How can you do something to help us bring them back?' Well, There's enough renewable energy development projects across Michigan that are going to be going in in the next 10 to 15 to 20 years. If some of these young people from these communities go and get trained, they can be back in their communities with a real, well-paying job. And when parents hear that, it just gives that hope they're not going to lose their kids,' Wagner said. Dirul noted that while there is no shortage of talent in Detroit to help build and operate clean energy systems, the one thing that is missing is access to training. 'We want to ensure that everybody has access to these pipelines, to these educations, to these trainings, to these certifications, so that they can advance themselves, advance their careers and potentially become gainfully employed in the clean energy industry,' Dirul said. 'We're also looking to just expand beyond entry level jobs. Like, we should also look at management and entrepreneurship.… Not everybody's going to get up on a roof and install solar, and for many people, that's the one thing that will actually detract them from trying to get into the clean energy industry,' Dirul said.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Whitmer vows to fight for healthy climate plan, while expanding home energy rebates
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she would stand by her climate goals amid a challenging federal landscape during the MI Healthy Climate Conference in Detroit on April 23, 2025. | Kyle Davidson Amid a challenging federal landscape for climate action, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, speaking Wednesday at the 2025 MI Healthy Climate conference in Detroit, stood firm on the goals outlined in her climate plan, renewing her commitment to bring the state to 100% carbon neutrality by 2050. 'Last year, we had a federal government that joined us in the fight for climate action. They worked hard to protect our air and land and water, and made historic investments in our clean energy effort,' Whitmer said. 'Now we have a government that calls climate change a hoax and wants to repeal clean energy investments, slow growth and they're skirting legal processes to cut hundreds of policies that help protect our air, land and lakes from pollution, waste and dangerous chemicals,' Whitmer said before pointing to an executive order that she said targets states who have passed laws to address climate change. However, Michigan is not backing down in its climate efforts, Whitmer said, noting that Michigan is also seeing increased opportunities in clean energy jobs and electric vehicle manufacturing. 'We have an opportunity to take the lead on climate, an opportunity to continue creating good paying jobs and an opportunity to show the world what Michigan can do,' she said. As states serve as laboratories for democracy within our federal system, those states are on the frontline in the fight against climate change, Whitmer said, pledging not to abandon the goals outlined in her MI Healthy Climate plan. In that vein, Whitmer announced the launch of a statewide home energy rebate program in hopes of saving Michiganders costs on their energy bills. According to a statement from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, up to 15,000 homes will benefit from the program's rollout, as households are eligible for up to $34,000 in rebates from the program's two efforts. The first offers rebates to address the up front cost of whole-home energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, air sealing and heating and cooling. Households are eligible for up to $20,000 in rebates through this program. The second will help reduce the upfront cost of energy efficient electric appliances and equipment, offering up to $840 for an electric stove or dryer; $1,750 for a heat pump water heater; $1,600 for insulation, air sealing and ventilation; $2,500 for electric wiring upgrades and $8,000 for a heat pump for heating or cooling, with households eligible for a maximum of $14,000 in rebates. Renters and homeowners interested in the program can find more information about the program and how to apply at or by dialing the CLEAResult Call Center at 855-510-7080. When a household's application is approved, they will be directed to select an program-approved contractor to conduct a home assessment with eligible rebate work to be completed by the program's contractors. For low-income households, 100% of the work is covered. The program also aims to support jobs in construction; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; energy efficiency and appliance installation. The state is encouraging contractors to sign up online to become an eligible program contractor, directing any questions to mihercontractor@ Contractors can also receive bonuses for certain projects in eligible communities. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gilchrist pushes against climate denial, launches grant program to aid Michigan's climate efforts
Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist pushes back on climate change denial while announcing grant funding for community efforts aimed at meeting the state's healthy climate goals during the MI Healthy Climate Conference in Detroit on April 22, 2025. | Kyle Davidson Kicking off the third annual MI Healthy Climate conference, focused on advancing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's plan to reach 100% carbon neutrality by 2050, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist continued to call for climate action amid an uncertain federal landscape. While climate change denial may be at its peak within American culture, those committed to climate action must also be at the peak of their strength, Gilchrist said. 'Republicans at the federal and the state level are attacking climate action. They are committing to rolling back investments that have been made, that have been committed, that have been promised to people and communities here in the state of Michigan, to the tune of putting $14 billion of investment at risk that will raise energy prices on Michiganders,' said Gilchrist, who is a Democratic candidate for governor in 2026. However these threats emphasize the importance of climate efforts at the state and community level, Gilchrist said. Pulling from his past as a basketball player, Gilchrist said that sometimes the best defense is a good offense, framing the fight against climate change as an opportunity for change, growth, innovation and leadership. As Michigan leads the nation in clean energy job growth, and more clean energy adjacent businesses are growing in the state than ever before, Gilchrist pointed to these changes as an opportunity for Michigan to do more. As part of that effort Gilchrist announced the MI Healthy Climate Challenge, offering several millions of dollars in grants to projects that will help the state meet its goal of carbon neutrality. The program will include multiple competitions through 2026, with the first competition, Solar for Savings, offering $8.875 million in grants for residential and community solar pilot projects and upgrades to equipment and energy storage. The challenge is open and will accept entries through 5 p.m. on July 30, 2025. Applications are available at Pilot programs supported by the competition are intended to lower energy costs, improve resiliency against power outages and create the groundwork for the MI Solar For All program, a $156 million federally-funded initiative to provide low-income communities and households access to solar energy. According to a statement from the Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy, which is sponsoring the conference, future competitions will focus on improving access to loans for environmental efforts, helping communities and partners leverage federal tax credits and unlocking large-scale financing for high-impact climate projects. Though eligibility will vary, the challenge aims to include a wide range of participants such as local governments, community lenders, schools, faith organizations, nonprofits and solar providers. During last year's MI Healthy Climate Conference, Gilchrist announced the Michigan Climate Justice Challenge, offering $11 million in grant and technical assistance to help Michigan communities in competing for federal funding. The state also announced a mobility challenge aimed at improving access to Michigan's national parks through innovations in small-scale electric shuttles and automated driving systems, multimodal electric charging hubs and micro-mobility like scooters and e-bikes. 'All that is to say, we've laid a foundation… We've tested some things out,' Gilchrist said. 'Now that we know when something works a little bit, we have to scale it up quickly so it can work a lot in every group, in more markets in more communities, in more circumstances,' Gilchrist said, emphasizing the importance of inviting people from all of Michigan's communities to participate in efforts to combat climate change and build up the state's clean energy and mobility economy. 'We cannot get where we need to go if we don't bring everybody along with us,' Gilchrist said, telling attendees that by building a better connected, more inspired group, the state can begin to realize the clean energy and climate future it deserves.
