The MI Healthy Climate Plan lays out a pathway for Michigan to avert the worst impacts of the climate crisis, create good-paying jobs, and build a healthier and more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable Michigan for all Michiganders. Focusing on action from today to 2030, the Plan identifies bold, necessary, and strategic measures to deliver a carbon-neutral economy, reducing GHG emissions by 52% from 2005 baselines by 2030 in an equitable manner, including the following priority action areas:
EGLE is presenting this webinar series to highlight opportunities to take action as well as actions taking place around the state to implement the goals in the Plan.
The target audience includes local and state government, nonprofits, community groups, universities, businesses, and anyone interested in taking climate action. Join us as we discuss specific actions and upcoming programs and opportunities designed to help leverage resources, build partnerships, and create meaningful and measurable steps to reaching our goals of carbon neutrality in Michigan. A questions-and-answer period will follow each presentation. All webinars will be recorded and posted online for future viewing.
As new webinars are scheduled, they will be posted on this page. Check back often!
Recordings are 1 hour long, unless otherwise noted.
Deploying renewable energy at scale is critical to meeting the state’s climate and energy goals, and siting is arguably the most important barrier we face to build more solar, wind, and so much more across Michigan. The purpose of this webinar is to provide an overview of Michigan’s recently awarded $129.1 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This investment will help Michigan meet its 60% renewable energy in the MI Healthy Climate Plan and 100% clean energy standards set under the recently enacted clean energy laws. The grant will support the creation of the Renewables Ready Communities Program which includes:
Speakers include Cory Connolly from EGLE’s Office of Climate and Energy, Zona Martin from EGLE’s Energy Services Section, and Julie Lowe from EGLE’s Brownfield Redevelopment Program.
Local governments or entities interested in utility-scale renewable energy projects and renewable energy projects on brownfields, and anyone interested in hearing about the grant award and plans moving forward should attend this webinar.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and Michigan Economic Development Corporation will be expanding upon Governor Whitmer’s announcement at the MI Healthy Climate Conference on May 17, 2024. This SEFI determination calls for large-scale clean energy technology projects to launch in Michigan and encourages economic development for new and existing organizations in Michigan while accelerating progress toward Michigan’s goal of reaching 100% carbon neutrality by 2050. Hans Riemer from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Loan Programs Office will join to provide an overview of the SEFI program.
Public and private entities managing large-scale decarbonization projects (of at least $100 million, which can be an aggregation of smaller projects) should tune in to this webinar to hear from both of Michigan’s SEFIs and the DOE LPO about how SEFI support for your project can help open up new federal financing streams.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Office of Climate and Energy (OCE) submitted the state of Michigan’s application for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Solar for All Competition to help advance the goals in the MI Healthy Climate Plan.
Through the U.S. EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), the $7 billion Solar for All Competition will award grants to states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities, and eligible nonprofit recipients to expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDCs) primed for distributed solar investment with overall objectives to:
If you are a resident interested in solar, contractor, manufacturer, local government, or community-based organization, you should attend this webinar. Attendees will learn about the Solar for All program and how it may impact communities across Michigan.
The Inflation Reduction Act authorized the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), a $27 billion investment to mobilize financing and private capital to combat the climate crisis and ensure American economic competitiveness. Through the GGRF program, the EPA will allocate the fund through three competitions: Solar for All, National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF), and the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA). Through these competitions, the fund aims to scale deployment of clean technologies nationally, build community clean financing capacity locally, and spur adoption of clean distributed solar energy in disadvantaged communities.
Attend this webinar to learn about the EPA’s NCIF and CCIA competitions, how these programs can support clean energy and green construction projects in Michigan communities, and how community lenders and project developers can apply for capital funding and technical assistance. This webinar is intended for community lenders (CDFIs, credit unions, etc.), port authorities, business owners, contractors, housing authorities, developers, local and municipal government agencies, small businesses, educational institutions, nonprofits, and anyone interested in learning more.
The State of Michigan is committed to promoting awareness of the U.S. EPA Community Change Grant opportunity and supporting community-based groups working on environmental and climate justice to pursue these funds.
View this webinar to get an introduction to the Community Change Grants and learn how frontline environmental and climate justice communities and grassroots groups can benefit from this unique and unprecedented program.
You will also learn about opportunities to receive no-fee/pro bono technical assistance for developing organizational capacity, project plans, partnerships, and applications for the Community Change Grants.
The MI Healthy Climate Corps (MHCC) is a soon-to-launch initiative by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s (EGLE) Office of Climate and Energy (OCE) in partnership with the Michigan Community Service Commission to leverage state and federal investments for advancing the goals in the MI Healthy Climate Plan.
Starting in early 2024, the MHCC will field a cohort of 30 federal AmeriCorps members who will provide vital support for climate action across Michigan. Corps members’ service will build capacity in governments and nonprofit organizations across the state to further Climate Plan goals, helping to guide federal and state resources and support to communities and people who need it most. Networking, training, and professional experience will develop Corps members’ skills and relationships for the long haul and future careers.
Attend this webinar to hear how EGLE is drawing on a tried-and-true model from other states to build a unique, transformative and equity-centered program in Michigan to meet the moment. We will cover how the MHCC will be engaging with community partners, state agencies, and others to identify needs and opportunities for this program, setting up a process to request support, and recruiting Corps candidates.
If you are a government or nonprofit organization on the frontlines of addressing climate change in Michigan and want to host a member, or if you might be interested in serving as a MI Healthy Climate Corps AmeriCorps member, you should attend this webinar. Learn more about the Corps.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program provides states, local governments, and tribal nations flexible resources to plan for and pursue ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution reductions to achieve three broad objectives:
1. Tackle damaging climate pollution while supporting the creation of good jobs and lowering energy costs for families;
2. Accelerate work to address environmental injustices and empower community-driven solutions in overburdened neighborhoods; and,
3. Deliver cleaner air by reducing harmful pollution in places where people live, work, play, and go to school.
Attend this webinar to hear how the state of Michigan is using the $3 million planning grant to accelerate the implementation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan and provide a strong framework for pursuing corresponding upcoming competitive funding from the EPA. We will discuss the general purpose of the grant, our proposed approach to public and stakeholder engagement, grant timeline, future funding opportunities, and other grant deliverables.
EGLE’s Chief Climate Officer, Cory Connolly, will give an overview of how the MI Healthy Climate Plan came to be, the Plan’s Roadmap to reach our goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 52% from 2005 baselines by 2030, and where we’re heading with upcoming federal funding opportunities.
With the creation of the MI Healthy Climate Plan under Governor Whitmer’s leadership, historic federal and state funding for climate action, and upcoming legislation, we are getting things done in Michigan! Learn what's happening, where we're heading, and how you can get involved.
Jim Ostrowski, Outreach Section Manager, at OstrowskiJ2@Michigan.gov or at 517-284-6870.
Please reach out with questions about the webinar content and/or recommendations for additional topics!
