August 2018 Newsletter

Welcome to the monthly newsletter of the Michigan Energy Efficiency Contractors Association (MEECA). Continue reading to learn more about what's been happening as we head into late summer.

MEECA Partners on Codes and Standards Training

Image: Sonya Pouncy from Energy Sciences conducts training on the new Michigan Energy Code and ASHRAE Standard 90.1 at Behler-Young headquarters in Grand Rapids on August 14, 2018.

Thirty-one people attended a training session hosted by MEECA earlier this month focused on the new Michigan Energy Code and the ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2013. The session, conducted by Energy Sciences based in Royal Oak, took place at the corporate headquarters of Behler-Young in Grand Rapids. Both companies are members of MEECA.

The course was offered as a service to the building arts community—contractors, engineers, architects and others—to improve their understanding of the commercial code, enhance the code’s correct application in new facilities, and encourage owners and building professionals to upgrade and maintain existing buildings for improved energy performance. Three continuing education credits (CEUs) from the American Institute of Architects are available to those who complete this training. MEECA and Energy Sciences will offer an equivalent session in Detroit this fall and details will be available soon.

MEECA would like to thank the Michigan Energy Office within Michigan’s Agency for Energy for sponsoring these code update seminars!

EE in the News

Matching Funds Available for Innovative EE Technologies

The Michigan Energy Office (MEO) has announced a pilot program that will provide matching funds to eligible Michigan businesses to develop clean energy technologies. Applicants must have 500 or fewer employees and apply the funding develop innovative energy efficiency or renewable energy technologies. MEO can make available up to $100,000 in matching funds per year. Individual awards cannot exceed $25,000 annually. Visit MEO’s website for more information.

Michigan Saves Offers Program for Public Sector Energy Financing

MEECA member Michigan Saves recently highlighted its program to help local units of government pay for upgrades to their energy infrastructure. By saving money on these investments, cities and townships can devote more resources to other important budget line items. You can learn more about this Public Sector Energy Financing Program at the Michigan Saves website.

Michigan a Regional Leader in Clean Energy Employment

Michigan leads the Midwest in clean energy jobs according to Clean Jobs Midwest, a new report by Clean Energy Trust (CET) in partnership with E2 and BW Research. Michigan claims more than 122,000 of these jobs or about 2.8 percent of the State’s workforce. Energy efficiency makes up nearly 70 percent of clean energy jobs in Michigan with the other sectors being advanced transportation, renewable energy, advanced grid, and clean fuels. As CET puts it, “Clean energy employment in the Midwest spans both traditional and emerging industries, shaping existing businesses and bringing new opportunities to the region.” The full Clean Jobs Midwest report can be found here and its Michigan-specific findings here.

Traverse City Sets Course for 100 Percent Clean Energy

Traverse City Light & Power has set an ambitious goal of generating all its electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass by 2040 as part of its strategic plan. This builds on the previous commitment by Traverse City to power all municipal operations in Traverse City by renewable energy by 2020. Now it becomes the first city in Michigan to establish a goal of 100 percent renewable energy for all sectors.

Increased investment in energy savings, the most cost-effective energy resource, typically happens alongside higher renewable energy targets. For this reason, MEECA expects TCL&P’s recent decision to benefit the area’s EE industry. For more information about this exciting development, click here.

New CHP Roadmap for Michigan

The Michigan Agency for Energy (MAE) has released its Roadmap for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) in Michigan. This report by the Michigan Energy Office and supported by the Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI) concludes that our state is well positioned to make CHP a significant energy resource. CHP is a proven technology that delivers both electricity and hot water or steam from a single fuel source. According to MAE, Michigan already has 88 of these systems installed with a total installed electric capacity of 3,500 MW with significant potential remaining. Visit the MAE website for more information about the findings and recommendations in this report.

Public Policy Update

Code of Conduct Rules Updated, Resubmitted

An updated version of Code of Conduct rules was approved for all utilities and alternative electric suppliers (AESs) after comments from a public hearing were incorporated. The new rules are intended to prevent cross-subsidization, preferential treatment, and information sharing between a utility’s regulated and unregulated services and programs. They also allow utilities to offer “value-added programs and services” to customers. The rules will be submitted to the Legislative Service Bureau and the Office of Regulatory Reinvention for their formal approvals.

In response to the draft rule package, MEECA spoke on behalf of our members at a public hearing and submitted written comments in June. We expect one more opportunity to provide public input. The updated rules in Case No. U-18361 can be found on the MPSC website.

Good news from the Midwest: Michigan emerges as energy efficiency powerhouse

If you are curious about Michigan’s relative position to other states on EE policy, be sure to read the recent blog by ACEEE Senior Fellow Marty Kushler. Dr. Kushler explains our current public policy landscape and offers several lessons learned including his well-informed observation that “policies matter.”

Renewing Member

Upcoming Events & Deadelines

Zero Net Carbon Series

Show Me the Money—Financing & Incentives for Energy Efficiency

11:30am-1:30pm on September 12, 2018

City Built Brewing Company in Grand Rapids

Deadline for submitting applications for 2019 Inspiring Efficiency Awards

Friday, September 14, 2018

Awards will be presented at the 2019 Midwest Energy Solutions Conference in Chicago

2018 Michigan Sustainability Conference

Tuesday September 18, 2018

Lansing Center, Lansing

Impacts of Rapid Growth on Sustainability and Public Health: The Case for Deconstruction in West Michigan

12:30pm-3:00pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Grand Valley State University, Eberhard Center in Grand Rapids

Annual Meeting for the National Association of State Energy Offices (NASEO)

The event will focus on integrating electric vehicles, buildings, and the grid for greater efficiency, intelligence, resiliency, and mobility.

September 23-26, 2018

Detroit, MI

Third annual Energy Efficiency Day

Friday October 5, 2018

MECA contractor training sessions on the benefits of residential heat pumps

Tuesday October 9, 2018 (Mt. Pleasant)

Wednesday October 10, 2018 (Petoskey)

Find out how heat pumps can benefit homeowners and learn about improved controls. Click here to register for either session.

MEECA Annual Meeting & Networking Event

2:00pm-5:30pm Thursday, October 11, 2018

Duro-Last headquarters in Saginaw.

Join us for MEECA's annual membership meeting followed by a tour of Duro-Last's production facility to learn about their "cool roof" EE product, and hear about internal EE improvements implemented under Consumers Energy's pilot program. Space will be limited, so click here to register for the event.

ACEEE Rural Energy Conference

Monday October 22, 2018

Atlanta, GA

Second Annual Sustainable Detroit Forum

9:00am-4:00pm on Wednesday October 24, 2018

Wayne State Student Center

Application deadline for USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants

Wednesday October 31, 2018

Additional information about the program and how to apply for this funding is available on page 40216 of the August 14, 2018 Federal Register.

Michigan EIBC’s Annual Energy Innovator’s Gala

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

MSU Kellogg Center, East Lansing