Gov. Whitmer Announces $156 Million from Biden-Harris Administration to Cut the Cost of Solar for Thousands of Low-Income Households in Michigan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 22, 2024
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Gov. Whitmer Announces $156 Million from Biden-Harris Administration to Cut the Cost of Solar for Thousands of Low-Income Households in Michigan

New Solar for All program will help low-income households across Michigan access renewable energy and lower their energy bills by 20%

LANSING, MI - Today, Governor Whitmer announced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the State of Michigan $156 million to lower the cost of community and rooftop solar for thousands of low-income and disadvantaged community households across the state, saving eligible households 20% on their utility bills and providing additional meaningful benefits.

"Michigan is committed to leading the future of clean energy, lowering utility costs for families, creating good-paying jobs, and growing our advanced manufacturing economy," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "Thanks to President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and our hardworking congressional delegation, Michigan is ready to launch the MI Solar for All program which will save thousands of working families households across the state money on their utility bills. By installing more solar energy on roofs or in communities, we can create more jobs, protect our air and water, and continue driving down costs. Together, let's shore up our national clean energy leadership as we work towards our goal of 100% clean energy by 2040. Let's keep building and defining the future."

The funding from the Inflation Reduction Act's (IRA) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) will be administered through the MI Solar for All (MI SFA) program. The competitively awarded program, led by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), is an important step toward achieving the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, the state's climate action roadmap.

MI SFA aims to increase access to affordable solar energy for eligible families by addressing barriers and increasing targeted resources. EGLE will invest the $156 million to accelerate the deployment of rooftop solar, community solar, and energy storage, provide resources for home upgrades like roof repairs that enable households to host rooftop solar, and partner with the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity to invest in workforce development in targeted communities.

"We're excited to implement the MI Solar for All program as part of the MI Healthy Climate Plan, the state's climate action plan," said EGLE Director Phil Roos. "Expanding access to renewable energy is critical, particularly for our low-income and environmental justice communities, to reducing pollution, protecting our world-class natural resources, and lowering energy costs for families. This investment will help us continue on our path toward a more sustainable future while ensuring real benefits for our communities, creating a positive and lasting impact for Michiganders today and tomorrow. Together, with our partners, we are making Michigan a better place for everyone who calls it home."

Through collaborative planning, the State will ensure the maximization of complementary public and private funding sources to support residential rooftop and community solar installations, energy storage, and enabling upgrades for eligible households. This strategy will increase the impact of the MI program, helping more families in need and ensuring Michigan remains a national leader in bringing federal climate and energy dollars back to Michigan.

The State will conduct a robust outreach process involving interested stakeholders, with a focus on historically underserved communities, to raise awareness and encourage people to take advantage of this transformational opportunity. Through the implementation of the MI Solar for All, significant resources and engagement will also be dedicated to clean energy workforce development.

Interested residents and stakeholders can find additional information and sign up for future updates on the EGLE Funding Opportunities website.

"I was proud to pass the Inflation Reduction Act into law to deliver this federal funding, which will help our state expand access to affordable, resilient solar energy to thousands of low-income households across Michigan," said U.S. Senator Gary Peters. "This investment will help our state fulfill its commitment to reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions and protecting our environment, Great Lakes, and precious natural resources, and do so by investing in projects that directly benefit families and communities."

"This investment will ensure we lower costs for Michiganders and upgrade homes while helping combat the climate crisis," said U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee. "Thanks to laws I helped pass, like the Inflation Reduction Act, we are helping bring solar panel manufacturing back home to America and create good-paying Michigan jobs. In Congress, I will continue working to lower everyday costs for Michiganders."

"I'm proud to have helped author and pass the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund based on our proven green bank model in Michigan to make these funds available for projects that otherwise would not have been possible," said U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell. We are prioritizing underserved communities that have for far too long carried the brunt of environmental pollution, tackling the climate crisis head on while creating jobs and lowering energy costs. I look forward to continuing to work with Governor Whitmer and our partners at the federal, state, and local level to invest in the most impactful and urgent projects to reach our climate and environmental justice goals."

"These federal funds along with the monumental state renewable energy policy reform accomplished last year by the Legislature and governor will be a powerful one-two punch in the fight against climate change," said state Senator Sean McCann (D-Kalamazoo), Chair of the Senate Energy & Environment Committee. "This money will enable us to ensure a cleaner, brighter future for Michigan while addressing the needs of our state and its people right now to support the transition to renewable energy."

"Progress builds on progress, and that's especially true when we are able to utilize opportunities at the federal level to bolster state programs and objectives," said state Senator Sam Singh (D-East Lansing), lead sponsor of the Clean Energy Future Plan. "I was proud to lead the charge on a clean energy future in Michigan that tackles climate change while helping workers, communities and residents with lower incomes. This federal funding will allow us to expand our efforts to improve access to safe, clean and affordable energy for all in Michigan."

"As the representative for a district that cares deeply about our air, land and water, a fierce advocate for affordable housing, this news is a huge win-win for Michigan," said state Representative Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City). "I was proud to announce recently that housing projects receiving HUD funding can qualify for PACE projects. With today's news building on that development, the future looks brighter, cleaner and more affordable for residents and developers alike."

"I am so excited to celebrate the $156 million grant to cut the cost of solar energy for thousands of low-income households across Michigan. This is a people-first initiative, signifying equitable access to clean energy and lowering utility bills for more vulnerable communities," said state Representative Jennifer Conlin (D-Ann Arbor). "By reducing barriers to the adoption of clean energy, we are championing both energy independence and job creation. This investment is a huge step in our work for environmental justice, economic development and climate action."

"When it comes to helping low-income households make ends meet or hitting our MI Healthy Climate Plan goals, every dollar counts," said Chief Infrastructure Officer and Director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO) Zachary Kolodin. "This award from the Biden-Harris Administration will help Michigan families lower their energy costs while replacing dirty energy with clean rooftop solar."

Michigan Leads on Clean Energy and Climate

In November, Governor Whitmer signed historic clean energy legislation making Michigan a national leader in the fight against climate change. The bills will lower household utility costs, create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and protect Michigan's precious air, water, and public health.

With the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and CHIPS and Science Act, Michigan has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring transformative infrastructure, climate, and economic development to Michigan. According to Climate Power, through funding from the IRA, Michigan has introduced 45 new clean energy projects, ranging from solar and EVs to hydrogen and batteries, the most across any state in the nation. The IRA has spurred $21.52 billion in investments in Michigan, creating or moving forward more than 20,000 clean energy jobs across the state.

Michigan leads the Midwest in the number of clean energy workers, with nearly 124,000 clean energy workers. The 2023 Clean Jobs America Report stated that clean energy businesses in Michigan added more than 5,400 workers in 2022, growing almost twice the rate of the overall economy.