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Michigan Industrial Resources

Top view of a robotic welding line in an auto manufacturing plant
Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Michigan Industrial Resources

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.

No-cost or low-cost energy assessment providers

  • Retired Engineers Technical Assistance Program (RETAP)

    The state-funded Retired Engineers Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) provides no cost energy assessments, including: 

    • Industry specific technical assistance
    • Renewable energy consultation
    • Pollution prevention assessments

    The program hires retired professionals with decades of experience to aid Michigan businesses and industries.

    Request for RETAP assistance

  • MSU Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC)

    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:

    • Save energy
    • Improve productivity
    • Reduce waste

  • Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) Energy Solutions

    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:

    • Offering personalized guidance for energy management decisions
    • Helping secure financing for energy projects
    • Assisting with applying for rebates and grants
    • Helping locate qualified contractors

  • Consumers Energy

    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

     

  • DTE Small and Medium Business Program

    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:

    • conduct an onsite visit
    • assess the businesses’ energy use
    • provide personalized recommendations in a report format

Technical assistance programs

  • Department of Energy (DOE) & University of Chicago

    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:

    • solar
    • geothermal
    • combined heat and power

  • ISO 50001 Ready

    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.

    Access the 50001 Ready Navigator

State and Federal funding resources

  • EGLE Energy funding opportunities

    EGLE offers several grant programs to assist businesses, industries and communities to implement projects in energy and infrastructure. 

  • Michigan's Industry 4.0 Initiative

    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.

  • DOE Industrial Training and Assessment Centers (ITAC) Implementation Grants

    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.

  • ENERGYWERX

    In partnership with ENERGYWERX, DOE helps increase the adoption of new technologies by working with selected Voucher Providers, including National Laboratories and private sector organizations. These providers are matched with Voucher Recipients to support them in overcoming energy adoption challenges.

  • U.S. Department of Energy funding opportunities

    The U.S. Department of Energy supports several grant, loan and financing programs.

Rebates, discounts, and tax credits

Find your utility provider

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. 

Utility demand response programs

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.

Understand your utility bills

  • Electricity

  • Natural gas

  • Water

Basics of energy efficiency and standards

Better Plants Quick Start Guide

ISO 50001 Ready Adaptation Guide

Baseline your energy use and cost

Contact us

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.