LANSING, Mich.(WZMQ) – $1.7 billion in water infrastructure-related grants and loans were awarded to local communities and businesses in 2024. The funding is all a part of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) plan to meet state goals.

2024 was also Phil Roos’ first full year as the Director of EGLE. He said that right after he started, he and Governor Whitmer created Vision 2027, a plan to make sure all parts of the state government remain environmentally contions and establish Michigan as a national leader in environmental protection.

“2024 was really an important year for me because I could start to see the progress that we’ve made,” Roos said. “We’re also realizing we can have a big impact in supporting positive, sustainable economic development and jobs and and also just improving quality of life and community. we wanted to take stock of that after that important year of 2024.”

Roos said he’s looking forward to working with members of the MI Healthy Climate Corps, a group that is dedicated to furthering clean energy in the state. He said the Corps launched in 2023 but has grown with 31 new members joining in 2024.

Roos said in 2025 he’s excited to continue that work, alongside brownfield clean-up efforts and renewable energy investments.

In particular, he says he’s excited to launch a pilot program for home energy rebates in Marquette. The pilot program will launch in two areas with funding from the Bipartasin Infrastructure Law.

In 2024, the state tripled the amount of contaminated brownfield sites it has addressed. The state has around 26,000 contaminated legacy sites, many of which are now being cleaned up and redeveloped into community spaces. 

Roos said the department is gearing up to continue working on projects like the Renewables Ready Community Awards to help grow the number of large-scale wind, solar, and storage projects. 2025 will also launch solar for all grants which is more funding for community solar projects.

EGLE’s main undertaking in 2024 was addressing outdated water infrastructure, including the $1.7 billion that went toward replacing lead lines in Ishpeming, Iron Mountain, Kingsford, and Republic. The fund also helped update old facilities like the wastewater treatment plant in Sault Ste. Marie, and the sanitary sewer system in Ontonogan.

Roos said EGLE will be working to continue working on these projects while creating more space for growth in the state to see what progress can be made for environmental protection in 2025.