Michigan Brings Home $35.7 Million from Inflation Reduction Act to Support Michigan’s Clean Energy Future and High-paying, In-demand Jobs

LANSING, Mich. — Today, the Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO) announced the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded the State of Michigan $35.7 million from the Biden-Harris administration’s Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grant Program. The funding will provide Michiganders with improved access to reliable, clean energy while creating life-changing, high-paying jobs, and reducing costs for Michigan families.

The state’s award will support job training and apprenticeship programs to ensure Michiganders are trained for high-paying, in-demand clean energy jobs, support low-income families—from providing funding for home improvements to reducing their energy bills, and allow the state to solidify its standing as the nation’s electric vehicle and mobility industry leader by expanding and enhancing Michigan’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure network. 

“Michigan is leading the future of clean energy and advanced manufacturing, and today’s investment from the Biden-Harris administration will only build on our strong momentum,” said Governor Whitmer. “With these resources, we can build up our skilled workforce and meet our goal of training 5,000 new infrastructure workers by 2030. Together, with public and private sector partners, let’s harness this huge opportunity to create good-paying, high-skill jobs and lay the groundwork for a reliable, sustainable, clean-energy future for all Michiganders.”

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) TESD grant will support the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s (LEO) workforce development initiatives with a focus on building a skilled workforce to support transmission construction and clean energy investments in Branch and Calhoun counties, the two counties impacted by ITC Holdings’ Helix-Hiple intrastate transmission line, which is currently pending with the Michigan Public Service Commission.

“As the demand for energy in the state of Michigan continues to grow, the need for transmission is vital to the continued reliability of Michigan’s energy infrastructure,” said Simon Whitelocke, president of ITC Michigan and Senior Vice President, Chief Business Officer of ITC Holdings. “The TSED program plays an important role in reliability by accelerating the development of Michigan’s transmission infrastructure, which will help foster economic development in local communities across the state, attracting new businesses and creating jobs.”

The transmission project supported by this grant includes one of two new interstate connections to Michigan’s transmission system–the first in nearly 50 years–and will support economic development in economically distressed communities, enhance grid reliability and resiliency, and support the deployment of clean energy and electrification. Construction for these projects is set to be completed by 2030.

“Our effort includes three economic development activities to benefit residents, employers and communities that will be impacted by and benefit from the construction of the new power transmission line,” said LEO Director Susan Corbin. “This new transmission line will create new, high-wage jobs requiring highly skilled workers. We are focused on removing barriers to help residents who are typically underrepresented or underserved, allowing them to take advantage of the opportunities presented by this infrastructure project and helping Michigan develop the workforce we need to support today and tomorrow’s electrical grid.”

As a part of this award, LEO will provide specialized education and training through electric utility registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, as well as training for EV infrastructure construction and installation. LEO will also create and invest in in a low-income energy fund to support a residential weatherization program, as well as provide utility stipends to families that live near the new transmission line.

To implement this program, LEO will partner with Michigan Works! Southwest, which serves Branch and Calhoun counties, on identifying workforce development programs for eligible individuals and providing energy assistance for families in need. The program will also support career and training services, public assistance programs, high school diploma/equivalency services, vocational rehabilitation services, and housing assistance.

In addition to Michigan Works! Southwest, LEO will also collaborate with community and labor organizations to support community and economic development in the two benefitting counties. In partnership with these organizations, LEO will work to ensure grant activities reduce barriers and improve access to resources.  

“From new buses to investments in manufacturing to today’s investment in grid infrastructure, the Biden-Harris administration has awarded Michigan more than $890 million in July 2024 alone – part of nearly $14 billion from the Investing in America Agenda over the last 3 years,” said Chief Infrastructure Officer and Director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office, Zachary Kolodin. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, we are building up our infrastructure across the state, including new transmission projects. Today’s award will allow us to ensure we have the workforce ready and available to tackle Michigan’s infrastructure projects and support the families in need near the projects.”

The grant will complement LEO’s existing efforts to meet Michigan’s new infrastructure workforce development goal, established through executive directive 2024-1, which aims to help train 5,000 new infrastructure workers who will each earn an industry-recognized certificate, credential, or receive on-the-job training. It also supports LEO’s efforts to reduce barriers and improve access to jobs for local and underrepresented workers, especially disadvantaged community residents in Calhoun and Branch counties, those with disabilities, returning citizens, new Americans, justice‐involved youth, formerly incarcerated, underrepresented populations, and veterans. For more information on Michigan’s infrastructure workforce efforts, visit Michigan.gov/InfrastructureWorkforce.

This award also supports the implementation of the state’s MI Future Mobility Plan, MI Healthy Climate Plan, the state’s climate action plan, new landmark clean energy laws, and recent actions to accelerate the deployment of clean energy resources at the scope and scale necessary to address climate change, including but not limited to, the recent announcement of a $129.1 million award to support the siting and build out of renewable energy systems.

DOE Transmission Siting and Economic Development (TSED) Grant Program  
TSED is a $760 million investment through the Inflation Reduction Act designed to advance critical transmission projects by accelerating siting and permitting while supporting economic development efforts in communities impacted by transmission construction and operation. For additional information on the TSED Grant program visit https://www.energy.gov/gdo/TSED.   

Michigan’s award was one of 20 projects selected across 16 states to receive funding to accelerate the permitting of high-voltage, interstate transmission projects and support community infrastructure projects along major new and upgraded transmission lines.

Michigan Leads on Clean Energy, Climate, Mobility 
In 2022, Governor Whitmer unveiled the MI Future Mobility and MI Healthy Climate Plans, ensuring the state had a roadmap to maintain advanced mobility leadership and meet our climate goals.  

In November 2023, the Governor signed historic clean energy laws, making Michigan a national leader in the fight against climate change. The bills will lower household utility costs, create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs, and protect Michigan’s precious air, water, and public health. 

The Governor has consistently supported the development of new transmission projects including urging the region's grid operator to act swiftly to approve new transmission projects across the region and signing legislation to expedite the development of transmission infrastructure through a simplified planning process.

With the passage of the IRA, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and CHIPS and Science Act, Michigan has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring transformative infrastructure, climate, and economic development to Michigan. According to Climate Power, through funding from the IRA, Michigan has introduced 45 new clean energy projects, ranging from solar and electric vehicles to hydrogen and batteries, the most across any state in the nation. The IRA has spurred more than $25 billion in investments in Michigan, creating or moving forward more than 21,000 clean energy jobs across the state.

Michigan leads the Midwest in the number of clean energy workers, with nearly 124,000 clean energy workers. The 2023 Clean Jobs America Report stated that clean energy businesses in Michigan added more than 5,400 workers in 2022, growing almost twice the rate of the overall economy.

ABOUT THE MICHIGAN INFRASTRUCTURE OFFICE 
The Michigan Infrastructure Office (MIO) is responsible for organizing and executing Governor Whitmer’s vision for infrastructure, coordinating across state government, marshaling resources, and partnering with local officials, federal partners, and outside stakeholders to ensure resources sent to Michigan through BIL, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), are used efficiently and effectively.