State Legislation We’re Watching

• Energy Storage Target Bill: HB 4256 introduced by Rep. Jenn Hill (D).

  • Sets statewide targets for storage and requires utilities to meet them.

• Establishes a Community Solar Program in Michigan: SB 152 and 153 introduced by Senators Ed McBroom (R) & Jeff Irwin (D).

• DG Cap Eliminator: HB 4228 introduced by Rep. Greg Markkanen (R).

• Creates a Solar PILT: HB 4317 and 4318 introduced by Representatives Curtis VanderWall (R) & Cynthia Neeley (D).

  • Creates a voluntary payment in lieu of taxes system for solar projects >2MW in size of $7000/MW. Incentivizes brownfield developments and projects on state lands with a lower PILT payment ($2000/MW).

  • Passed by the House of Representative (93-16) and State Senate (27-10).

  • Signed by Governor Whitmer on 07/26/23 with immediate effect.

• Senate Bills 302-303 expanding Michigan's successful Commercial Property Accessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program.

  • The bills expand use of this financing mechanism to agribusiness (farms) and to new high-efficiency commercial building projects. In the decade-plus history of C-PACE, over $300 million in private capital has been invested, with billions in energy dollars saved and not a single default on any loan

  • Passed by the State Senate (24-14) and House of Representative (56-52).

  • Signed by Governor Whitmer on 07/26/23 and 08/22/23 respectively.

• The Big 3 House Package

  • Rep. Betsy Coffia’s HB 4759 establishes a 100% carbon-free energy standard by 2035.

  • Rep. Laurie Pohutsyky’s HB 4760 requires the Michigan Public Service Commission to hold big utility companies accountable for massive rate increases, power shut offs, power outages and require big utilities to move to clean, renewable sources of energy.

  • Rep. Abraham Aiyash’s HB 4761 establishes an energy waste reduction (EWR) standard for annual savings of at least 2% for electricity and 1.5% for gas.

• Bipartisan Nuclear Energy Legislation

  • Sponsored by Rep’s Pauline Wendzel (R) and Joseph Aragona (R), HB 4753 establishes a corporate income tax credit for advanced small modular reactors.

  • HB 5606-5609 is a large bipartisan package that defines nuclear energy; creates a nuclear and hydrogen graduate attraction and retention program to award grants to certain graduates of a postsecondary school who are employed in this state at a qualified electric generation facility after graduation and is sponsored by the following:

    • HB 5606 Graham Filler, Joey Andrews, Alabas Farhat, Donavan McKinney, Samantha Steckloff, Kara Hope, Erin Byrnes, Mike McFall, Natalie Price, Cynthia Neeley, Jennifer Conlin, Sharon MacDonell, Pauline Wendzel, David Martin, Brenda Carter, Nancy DeBoer, Brian BeGole, Jamie Thompson, Phil Skaggs, William Bruck, Matthew Bierlein, Cam Cavitt, Dale Zorn, Bill Schuette, Tom Kunse

    • HB 5607 Joey Andrews, Alabas Farhat, Graham Filler, Donavan McKinney, Samantha Steckloff, Kara Hope, Erin Byrnes, Mike McFall, Natalie Price, Amos O'Neal, Jennifer Conlin, Sharon MacDonell, Pauline Wendzel, Brenda Carter, Nancy DeBoer, Phil Skaggs, William Bruck, Matthew Bierlein, Cam Cavitt, Jamie Thompson, Bill Schuette, Tom Kunse

    • HB 5608 Mike McFall, Joey Andrews, Alabas Farhat, Graham Filler, Donavan McKinney, Samantha Steckloff, Kara Hope, Erin Byrnes, Natalie Price, Amos O'Neal, Jennifer Conlin, Sharon MacDonell, Brenda Carter, Nancy DeBoer, Phil Skaggs, William Bruck, Matthew Bierlein, Cam Cavitt, Jamie Thompson, Dale Zorn, Bill Schuette, Tom Kunse

    • HB 5609 Samantha Steckloff, Joey Andrews, Alabas Farhat, Graham Filler, Donavan McKinney, Kara Hope, Erin Byrnes, Mike McFall, Natalie Price, Amos O'Neal, Jennifer Conlin, Sharon MacDonell, Pauline Wendzel, Brenda Carter, Nancy DeBoer, Brian BeGole, Jamie Thompson, Phil Skaggs, William Bruck, Matthew Bierlein, Cam Cavitt, Dale Zorn, Bill Schuette, Tom Kunse