Green giving? Michigan utility moves ahead on a plan that allows gifting renewable energy
Policy & Regulation

Green giving? Michigan utility moves ahead on a plan that allows gifting renewable energy

Michigan is making moves in renewable energy, and its largest energy provider just got permission from the state’s Public Service Commission to be creative about distributing it.

Last week, Consumers Energy received approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission to move ahead with its Renewable Energy Program, which will enable every household and business to match 100% of their energy use with cost-effective wind and solar power.

And the kicker?

People can also purchase renewable energy on someone else’s behalf through a new effort called Green Giving. It will provide a way for businesses, nonprofits, landlords, charitable foundations, or others to share program benefits with friends, family, tenants, and staff- or to help low-income neighbors in need.

Besides the Green Giving element providing a hilarious passive-aggressive gift-giving opportunity, the program as a whole intends to open up broad access to renewables.

“Everyone has the right to a cleaner future of renewable energy,” reads the company’s renewable energy early access sign-up page. “No matter what your story, your home, or your budget is, you can make the switch to local renewable energy.”

Consumers Energy is also removing the cap on its utility-scale renewable energy programs to move forward with wind and solar projects “As quickly as customers want,” according to a release. The existing large business program is now open for everyone to participate, giving residential and small business customers an option to sign up for cost-effective, utility-scale renewable energy projects.

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“Consumers Energy is excited to expand customers’ options so more people can power clean energy here in Michigan,” said Lauren Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience.

The new programs will roll out in 2025. Consumers’ Clean Energy Plan calls for eliminating coal as an energy source in 2025, achieving net-zero carbon emissions, and meeting 90% of customers’ energy needs through clean sources, including wind and solar.

The mitten is hot

Michigan has become a hotbed for renewable development over the last few years. According to a recent E2 analysis, Michigan leads the country in post-IRA clean economy announcements, with 30, including a dozen in the past year.

“Michigan has arguably benefited from the IRA more than any other state, and that’s certainly been our experience here in Jackson County. It feels like clean energy is at a tipping point – and the IRA is an accelerant,” said Lucas Olinyk, president of Jackson, Michigan-based Harvest Solar. “The IRA has been a strong tailwind for our business these past two years. As interest in solar has grown, we’ve expanded our customer base to include farm and agricultural projects, utility-scale projects as well as residential and some large commercial rooftops.”

Michigan is also among a handful of states that could make or break the growth trajectory of community solar. A recent Wood Mackenzie report estimates enacting proposed legislation in “battleground states” like Michigan could result in at least a 17% uplift from its base case projection for nationwide community solar growth. If workable community solar legislation clears all new potential markets, the cumulative national outlook will reach 17.1 GWdc by 2029.