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Efficient and Green Public Infrastructure Systems

The Goal

MIC will empower the public sectors to be leaders and role models in our clean energy journey. As outlined in the MI Healthy Climate Plan, broad decarbonization of Michigan’s economy is critical for ensuring Michigan remains a great place to live and work. Infrastructure operations including streetlighting, pumping of stormwater and sewage, water and wastewater treatment, fleet operations, and conditioning of ancillary buildings comprise a meaningful portion of the statewide energy consumption and carbon emissions. Due to the age of these systems, many of the assets use obsolete technology that is energy intensive compared to their modern counterparts. By strategically eliminating this energy waste and greening our infrastructure operations, we can lower the costs of operating these systems.

Electrical power lines at night
Underside of industrial pipes

Public Right-of-Way as Clean Energy and Broadband Asset

MIC Will Work With MPSC, Michigan Department of Transportation, and Private Electric and Broadband Providers to Idenfity Current Process and Legislative Barriers That Exist to Better Leveraging the Right of Way for Clean Energy And Connectivity.

Underutilized land can be a powerful clean energy and broadband asset for state and local government. The clean and connected future will require significant adjustments to electric grid layout and finding economic ways to deliver broadband to rural communities. Recent guidance from the FHWA allows state and local governments to allow Clean Energy and Connectivity projects in the Federal-aid highway right-of-way. Among the reasons for the guidance was to better leverage the full value and productivity of existing ROW assets and to promote energy security by diversifying energy generation and delivery methods. By co-locating future solar, broadband, and electric transmission in our highway right-of-way, we can accelerate the time it takes to site, permit, and build our clean energy future with minimal citizen inconvenience at a lower cost.

Read State DOTs Leveraging Alternative Uses of the Highway Right-of-Way Guidance
Rows of solar panels