The purpose of the MI Healthy Climate Plan (MHCP) is to enable a prosperous, clean energy economy future for all Michigans. But how do we get there? The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) and its Office of Climate and Energy (OCE) recently explored this issue with more than 20 clean energy business leaders.
A rendering of the LG Energy Solution building in Holland, Michigan (Courtesy LG Energy Solution)
Attendees at the Clean Energy Business Roundtable on Sept. 28, held at Walker-Miller Energy Services’ Detroit office, included Gov. We talked about the needs they see, such as the utilization of Raise funds, manage small businesses, and improve equity.
Karla Walker-Miller, CEO of her namesake company, said the word “equity” appears more than a dozen times in MHCP.
“We are in the midst of a transformational opportunity to create a vibrant clean energy economy meant to include all Michigans while addressing climate change urgently,” said Walker Miller. said. “We have the resources, the technology, and the will to do the most important work of this generation. Hats off to Governor Whitmer and his EGLE team.”
EGLE and OCE held a roundtable discussion on the future of green jobs and clean energy solutions in Michigan as part of MHCP’s roadmap to make Michigan carbon neutral by 2050. The 2022 Act (IRA) includes $369 billion in national climate and clean energy provisions, making it Congress’ largest climate investment to date.
“We want to capture that momentum,” Clark said.
Anyone can join the conversation on climate action in Michigan. The Climate Solutions Council’s quarterly virtual meetings are open to the public, and the Council welcomes comments in writing to his EGLE-ClimateSolutions@Michigan.gov.
Michigan’s transition to clean energy is already well underway. With more than 113,000 jobs in all parts of the state, mostly in manufacturing (57%) and construction (21.7%), the state’s clean energy workforce leads the Midwest and ranks first in the nation. is fifth. In August, the latest U.S. Energy and Employment Employment Report ranked Michigan No. 1 in the nation for its 2020-21 energy sector employment growth. Also, clean energy recovered faster than the statewide economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recent investments in large clean energy businesses in Michigan include:
Recent state actions include:
- On September 7 and 8, Governor Whitmer announced that state departments and agencies will use IRA tax credits and other resources to build Michigan’s manufacturing strength and advance its energy and mobility leadership. , signed an executive order to create jobs in Michigan by ensuring empowerment. A successful worker; also reducing costs in energy and supply his chain, and continuously improving permitting processes, lowering the cost of doing business and making Michigan more competitive.
- Governor Whitmer’s four bipartisan annual state budgets invest tens of millions of dollars in clean energy improvements and upgrades for state facilities, families, municipalities, places of worship and small businesses, making it America’s first nonprofit has consistently invested in Michigan Saves, an environmental organization in A bank that helps small businesses and working families to finance energy improvements.
- The governor also announced that by 2025, all Michigan facilities will be powered by 100% renewable energy.
- Michigan is partnering with the governors of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin to promote the Lake Michigan EV Circuit Tour, a network of electric vehicle chargers that spans more than 1,100 miles of drivable shoreline around Lake Michigan. increase.
- In June, EGLE announced a $3.5 million grant to advance the MiNextCities initiative by Detroit-based smart city technology leader NextEnergy. Dearborn, Flint, and Marquette will join his MiNextCities for three years to address climate change, promote resilience, improve infrastructure, and accelerate the use of clean energy, smart city technologies, and efficient mobility solutions. Selected for the first phase of the pilot project.
- As part of its commitment to environmental justice, MHCP has set an expectation that at least 40% of state and federal funding for climate-related initiatives will benefit disadvantaged communities. In August, Gov. Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Michigan Strategic Fund to invest his 280 in 74 training providers across the state for employer-led workforce training, skills development and equipment training. announced the approval of over $10,000 in training center equipment grants. , more.
More than 100,000 Michigans are enrolled in the Michigan Reconnect program, which began in 2021 and offers free or reduced community college tuition to students 25 and older who have not yet completed their degree. increase. Recently, with bipartisan support in Congress for fiscal year 2023, her additional $55 million allotment was approved.