Michigan’s economy is ranked as the 14th largest state economy in the nation, in terms of 2024 gross domestic product (GDP), generating $706.6 billion annually. Michigan’s industrial sector is ranked 6th in the nation, with the industries generating a GDP of $115,210 million in 2024. However, Michigan also consumes four times more energy than it produces and ranks 11th in the nation in total energy consumption.
Twenty-five percent of the total energy consumed in the State in 2024 was consumed by its industrial sector. This means that Michigan’s industrial sector has a great opportunity to become more energy efficient and become more cost competitive. In 2008, the State passed the Clean, Renewable, and Efficient Energy Act, which sets forth the procedures and guidelines designed to optimize energy efficiency and renewable energy generation within the state. The MI Healthy Climate Plan published in 2020, by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) set forth an action plan to make Michigan energy independent.
Several state, federal, utility and private resources are available to Michigan industries to assist them in their path to becoming more energy efficient, sustainable, and resilient. This webpage provides a comprehensive list of those resources.
The state-funded Retired Engineers Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) provides no cost energy assessments, including:
The program hires retired professionals with decades of experience to aid Michigan businesses and industries.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITACs) and Michigan State University’s ITAC provide no-cost technical assessments to support small and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers and commercial buildings.
These assessments are conducted by university-based teams of engineering students and faculty and help organizations:
Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) provides enhanced energy services to small businesses across Michigan through the SBAM Energy Solutions program.
The program will help businesses navigate the ins and outs of energy management by:
Consumers Energy has programs to provide access to energy audits to identify energy-efficient solutions by utilizing pre-qualified contractors
Learn about Small Business Energy Efficiency
Learn about Commercial and Industrial Business Solutions
The DTE Energy Small and Medium Business program’s energy efficiency assessment program, can guide businesses through the energy efficiency process. A qualified advisor will:
Department of Energy’s (DOE) Onsite Energy Program, along with their Technical Assistance Partner for the Midwest region, University of Chicago Energy Resource Center, provide industrial users and other large energy users with technical assistance on onsite renewable technologies such as:
ISO 50001 Ready is a self-paced program that helps organizations implement an energy management system aligned with ISO 50001 standards, offering recognition without requiring external audits or certification.
The DOE ISO 50001 navigator online tool provides step-by-step guidance to help industries implement an energy management system.
DTE’s Find and Fix program provides complementary surveys to:
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has established a grant program called Industry 4.0 to provide 50% reimbursement for qualifying technology costs in their effort to assist industries to be globally competitive.
The DOE ITAC Implementation Grants provide funding to small and medium-sized manufacturers to implement energy efficiency improvements based on assessments, with grants up to $300,000 available on a rolling basis.
Check the ITAC website for the latest application and processing status.
If you are not sure who your utility provider is, use the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) Utility Service Areas map.
To see the most recently approved tariff rate structure for your utility, check MPSC Tariff Index webpage.
Demand response programs reward businesses for reducing energy use during high demand days. The program helps keep energy reliable, and affordable for the community, while providing bill credits and direct payments to businesses for reducing peak demands on certain ‘event’ days.
U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Plants program offers the following training:
For specific questions, please contact the organization that provided the resource.
If you have general questions, contact RETAP Program Manager, Indu Jayamani, at JayamaniI2@Michigan.gov.
