LANSING – The Michigan Public Service Commission will share nearly $21 million in grants across the state for renewable energy and electrification projects to schools, community groups, tribes and other organizations from the MI Healthy Climate Plan.

Public Act 119 of 2023 required the MPSC to develop the grant program, which provides a total of $21.3 million, of which $20.8 million would be awarded to businesses, nonprofit organizations, local units of government and tribal governments to fund planning, developing, designing, acquiring or constructing renewable energy and electrification infrastructure projects in Michigan.

The grant program prioritized funding for infrastructure or planning projects that meet one or more of the MI Healthy Climate Plan goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition toward economy-wide carbon neutrality.

The Commission sought requests for proposals from eligible organizations in December 2023 and posted all 52 of the applications submitted, which requested a total of more than $147 million.

The recipients are:

• Alpena Community College: Farming the Sun solar array, $4,617,772.
• Bay Area Transportation Authority, Traverse City: rooftop solar, $795,673.
• Boys & Girls Club Grand Rapids Youth Commonwealth: Steil Club electrification and microgrid, $1,283,827.
• City of Ann Arbor: Bryant Neighborhood decarbonization project, $3,115,600.
• Consumers Energy: network geothermal planning, $425,000.
• Eco Works (Conner): Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit, solar/battery/energy storage technologies, $226,194.
• Eco Works (Meldrum): Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit, solar/battery/energy storage technologies, $256,918.
• Eco Works (Service Center): Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Detroit, solar/battery/energy storage technologies, $379,483.
• Eco Works (SDM2), Detroit: education center solar/heat pump/energy storage technologies, $146,393.
• Electric City ESS, Sturgis: battery storage facility, $1,047,266.
• Kalamazoo Nature Center: sustainable mobility hub, $1,290,274.
• Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, Baraga: NRD locations solar and battery storage, $726,870.
• Lansing Board of Water and Light: Justice40 communities hometown energy planning, $734,868.
• Lansing School District: Gier Park Elementary rooftop solar, $280,521.
• Pewamo-Westphalia Community Schools: solar array, $979,476.
• Pioneer Resources, Muskegon: facility solar, $600,000.
• Solar Tonic, Ypsilanti, and Soulardarity, Highland Park: community solar LED smart poles and WiFi, $1,289,421.
• Vicinity Energy, Grand Rapids: district energy system electrification, $2,064,750.
• Ypsilanti Performance Space: solar EV charging stations, $539,692

The anticipated grant start date is Nov. 15, 2024. The grants are contingent upon review and approval of the State Administrative Board.

Additional information about the grants is available the MPSC’s website for the program.