September 28, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2023
Contact: MichiganInfrastructure@michigan.gov
Gov. Whitmer Celebrates Michigan Punching Above Its Weight to Bring Billions of Federal Tax Dollars Back Home to Create Jobs, Lower Costs, and Power Advanced Manufacturing
LANSING, Mich. — Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Michigan has brought home billions in federal investments for transformational projects to grow the state’s economy, create thousands of good-paying jobs, and usher in a cleaner, brighter future.
As a result, Michigan is a national leader in attracting federal funding, and according to a recent study from Atlas Policy, Michigan has invested over $1 billion to drive climate infrastructure projects—more than any state in the nation except California.
“Michigan is bringing more than our fair share of federal tax dollars back home to create jobs and lower costs,” said Governor Whitmer. “We are fixing the damn roads, replacing lead pipes, and building more electric vehicle chargers with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. We’re making more clean, reliable energy right here in Michigan and lowering utility bills and home repair costs for consumers with the Inflation Reduction Act. Together, we have brought home the second most federal tax dollars of any state from these laws, punching well above our weight. Let’s keep competing and winning against other states and nations to bring jobs and investments back and build a brighter future for Michigan.”
Investing Inflation Reduction Act Dollars to Create a Greener, Healthier Michigan
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the largest investment in climate and energy in American history. The legislation aims to tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice, create clean energy jobs and position the United States as a world leader in clean energy manufacturing.
Per Michigan EIBC, Michigan ranks first in the nation in new clean energy projects announced since the passage of the IRA with 24 projects resulting in more than $21 billion in new improvements. These projects include Ford Motor Company’s Blue Oval Battery Park in Marshall, Our Next Energy’s establishment of a battery cell manufacturing plant in Van Buren Township and a new Polor Racking manufacturing facility to produce solar mounting solutions.
"We're proud to be a part of the team that made Michigan a national leader in leveraging federal funding for climate and clean energy initiatives," said Phil Roos, director of the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. "These dollars are essential to meeting the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan and they touch the lives of all Michiganders—from programs to lower energy bills with energy efficiency upgrades, to investments to reduce outages with grid enhancements, and so much more. EGLE will continue to aggressively mobilize to draw down as many dollars as possible to meet the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan and improve quality of life for all Michiganders."
Michigan EIBC also shows Michigan continues to lead the race for jobs and investment. The Climate Power report shows Michigan is the number two state nationwide for clean energy investments, with a combined $20 billion of investment since August 2022. The report also shows Michigan leading the nation after winning 14 projects in clean energy, battery and electric vehicle manufacturing. According to the report, Michigan has announced more than 13,000 jobs since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. The Climate Power report follows Michigan being named as one of three states poised to “dominate” electric vehicle battery manufacturing in the United States by 2030.
Mobilizing Michigan to Secure Federal Funding Investments
In response to the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS and Science Act, Michigan has aggressively mobilized around federal funding opportunities, prioritizing funding to implement the MI Healthy Climate Plan. This mobilization included creating the Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO), the state's federal funding coordinating office; signing executive directives to prepare state agencies for formula funding opportunities; and creating and convening a dedicated subcabinet and topical working groups, including one devoted exclusively to climate and energy funding priorities.
The Governor also proposed and secured $337 million for the 'Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund,' a fund intended to provide enabling funds to unlock federally-backed investments. In addition, MIO launched a Technical Assistance program, with support from the Michigan Department of Transportation, to help communities leverage federal funding opportunities by providing technical assistance, planning, and matching grants to connect locals, tribal governments and other eligible entities with consulting services to help identify, apply for, manage and administer federal grant funding.
"Michigan is on the move, mobilizing state departments and communities with unwavering determination to secure the funding that will augment our infrastructure to enable the clean energy transition and improve resilience,” Zachary Kolodin, Michigan’s Chief Infrastructure Officer and director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office. “We understand that the key to a brighter future lies in the foundation we build today, and the infrastructure investments Michigan is making will ensure our communities stand the test of time.
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