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MI Healthy Climate Challenge

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Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

MI Healthy Climate Challenge

The MI Healthy Climate Challenge (The Challenge) is Michigan’s boldest call to action yet—putting millions in green energy grants into the hands of Michiganders to accelerate the clean energy transition.

There has never been a more urgent time to act. To reach our climate goals, Michigan must rapidly scale renewable energy, electrification, energy storage, and efficiency efforts. The Challenge is designed to break down barriers, spark new partnerships, and launch transformative projects that deliver real impact.

These grants will fuel high-impact initiatives that cut emissions, create good-paying jobs, and unlock even greater investment in Michigan’s clean energy economy. From energy efficiency and electrification to innovative financing models, we’re seeking bold, catalytic proposals that push boundaries and deliver real solutions for communities.

Local governments, nonprofits, businesses, and more—if you’re ready to lead in the clean energy transition, Michigan is ready to invest.

MI Healthy Climate Challenge Logo

The "Challenges"

Throughout the year, the MI Healthy Climate Challenge will launch a series of grant competitions to drive clean energy deployment and unlock additional investment across Michigan. 

  • Picture of a green windmill, hospital, church, and school

    Challenge #2: Unlocking Elective Pay

    Challenge #2 will help entities across Michigan access federal clean energy tax credits.

    This Challenge will provide grants to develop and deploy strategies that help nonprofits, local and Tribal governments, public school districts, electric cooperatives, houses of worship, and other tax-exempt entities access and utilize federal clean energy tax credits, specifically by using Elective Pay.

    Learn more about Unlocking Elective Pay

    Unlocking Elective Pay program guide

  • Michigan with a coin sprouting a leaf

    Challenge #3: Growing Green Lending

    Challenge #3 will help expand green lending for climate, clean energy, and energy efficiency projects across Michigan.

    This Challenge will provide grants to organizations developing new strategies and partnerships that strengthen community lenders’ ability to support clean energy projects. Funded projects may include community engagement and education, lender training, borrower readiness support, early stage project development, contractor-lender coordination, and other activities that make clean energy financing easier to deploy and access.

    Learn more about Growing Green Lending

    Growing Green Lending Program Guide

  • An icon of an industrial plant with leaves coming out of the stacks to represent green industry

    Challenge #4: Go Big, Go Clean

    We are excited to announce the launch of Challenge #4: Go Big, Go Clean to support industrial decarbonization in Michigan!

    This challenge will provide grants to support feasibility studies that help Michigan industries evaluate practical near-term decarbonization interventions while also identifying the technologies, conditions, and support needed to achieve deeper emissions reductions over time. Funding can be used to support studies, assessments, analyses, and related planning work that support industrial decarbonization at Michigan facilities.  

    Learn more about Go Big, Go Clean

    Go Big, Go Clean Program Guide

Solar for savings icon

Challenge #1: Solar for Savings: MI Solar for All Pilot Projects - PAUSED

Pause Outline Icon PAUSED due to termination letter from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency dated August 7, 2025 for the MI Solar for All program. We are currently working with Michigan's Attorney General on the next steps.

Challenge #1 will support MI Solar for All pilot projects that will bring solar energy savings to low-income households, boost energy resilience, and help shape the future of clean energy access across Michigan.

If you have a vision for expanding solar and energy storage solutions in your community, this is your chance to make it happen with funding support! 

Learn more about Solar for Savings

FAQ: MI Solar for Savings

The objectives

The MI Healthy Climate Challenge seeks to achieve the following key objectives:

  • Accelerate clean energy deployment: Support innovative clean energy projects to reach 100% carbon neutrality by 2050 and a 52% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as outlined in the MI Healthy Climate Plan.
  • Expand access to climate funding: Help Michigan entities secure public and private funding for clean energy and climate initiatives.
  • Build a robust project pipeline: Facilitate scalable projects through aggregation and early-stage development. 
  • Foster strong partnerships: Strengthen cross-sector collaborations across sectors for coordinated decarbonization efforts.
  • Enable investments in low-income communities: Focus on projects that deliver benefits to low-income communities.
  • Raise awareness and inspire action:  Share success stories and best practices to inspire further action across the state.

How to apply

Each challenge or grant competition will have its own application process. Please refer to the specific challenge or grant competition you wish to apply for to review its requirements.

The State will announce additional Challenges as they are developed and released. Please check back here for updates on future Challenges.

Need assistance

If you have any questions or need help at any step of the process, please don’t hesitate to contact us at EGLE-OCE@Michigan.gov. Be sure to include “MI Healthy Climate Challenge” in the subject line to help us respond to your questions more efficiently.