Michigan to invest $129 million in electricity sector decarbonization, renewable energy

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The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) will receive $129 million from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to decarbonize the electricity sector and site renewable energy projects.

EGLE will launch the Renewables Ready Communities (RRC) program, advancing the state’s efforts to achieve 60% renewable energy by 2030. The RRC program leverages five strategies to transition the state to clean energy and meet legislative standards:

The Renewables Ready Communities Award, which launched earlier this year with an initial $30 million investment. The awards provide financial incentives that approve and host utility-scale renewable energy and energy storage.

• Bolstering the Renewable Energy Academy, which helps prepare local and tribal governments to improve planning, siting and permitting for renewable energy facilities.
• Creating the Brownfield Renewable Energy Pilot grant program to support renewable energy project developments on brownfields.
• Developing the required workforce to build adequate renewable energy resources to meet state goals.
• Developing a RRC Plan for utility-scale and brownfield-based renewable energy projects to meet 60% renewable energy by 2030.

EGLE will reserve $10 million in incentives for tribal community projects. In addition, local governments will receive additional financial incentives to invest in communities per megawatt of renewable energy or energy storage installed.

The EPA allocated the funds from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program, which provides financial support to eligible recipients to develop and deploy plans to reduce harmful air pollutants. Awarded projects will address climate change, reduce air pollution, support environmental justice and transition the nation to clean energy.

Michigan is one of 25 applicants chosen to receive a portion of the allocated $4.3 billion in CPRG funding. The most recent round prioritizes reducing GHG emissions in the agriculture and working lands, transportation, commercial and residential buildings, industry, waste and materials management and electric power sectors.

Photo courtesy Matthew T Rader