Gov. Whitmer signs budget that saves Michiganders money, fights pollution, protects the Great Lakes
LANSING, Mich. – A broad coalition, of nonprofit organizations, are thanking Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for signing a budget that makes investments in clean energy, transportation, and weatherization of homes and small businesses.
These investments will help save consumers on their energy bills, protect public health, and address climate change. The budget was signed as the recently released Clean Energy Boom Report ranked Michigan No. 1 in the country for new EV and clean energy projects, investments, and jobs.
In addition to allocating state funds, some of these items in the state budget use available federal funding. According to the Climate Program Portal Outcomes Dashboard, Michigan is ranked No. 2 nationally in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding going to infrastructure projects with climate elements at $117/per capita and $1.1 billion total.
“The budget passed by lawmakers and signed by the governor today is an investment in our future – a future that cleans up our air and water, reduces environmental impacts in our overburdened communities, accelerates our clean mobility transition, and reduces energy costs for Michiganders by improving weatherization and efficiency,” said Carlee Knott, Energy & Climate Policy Coordinator with Michigan Environmental Council.
The groups thanked bill sponsors and supporters, including Rep. Ranjeev Puri, Rep. Regina Weiss, Rep. Phil Skaggs, Sen. Darrin Camilleri, and Sen. Jeff Irwin.
“We’re grateful to Michigan lawmakers and the governor for investing in resilient communities,” said Martin Kushler, Senior Fellow with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. “Expanding the use of energy efficiency, weatherizing homes and small businesses, enhancing the grid, and building out more clean energy is critical to Michigan’s future. The state budget makes a down payment, and we look forward to working with our lawmakers to ensure further investments in these areas.”
“Michigan’s budget makes essential investments to support a thriving clean mobility sector, from expanding access to electric vehicle charging stations to putting more clean school buses on the road,” said Jane McCurry, Executive Director of Clean Fuels Michigan. “The Michigan Clean School Bus Program will allow communities across the State of Michigan to experience firsthand the benefits of operating clean fleets, like cleaner air to breathe, good-paying jobs, and reduced fuel costs. We commend Governor Whitmer and the Legislature for continuing to support the growth of the clean transportation industries.”
Michigan’s budget includes:
● $212 million to provide rebates for energy-efficient home upgrades
● $125 million to help school districts purchase electric school buses
● $70 million to expand clean transportation options like transit and high-speed rail
● $50 million to upgrade school energy (including building on-site renewables) and water systems
● $45 million to expand operating budgets for transit agencies
● $43 million to enhance the electric grid and reduce power outages
● $30 million to launch “Renewable-Ready Communities,” a program that will incentivize communities to host utility-scale renewables
● $25 million to repair and weatherize homes to enable clean energy upgrades
● $21.3 million to help nonprofits, communities, and businesses expand clean energy infrastructure
● $20 million to improve air quality and clean up contamination in environmental justice communities
● $20 million to conduct energy audits to enable clean energy in schools
● $14 million to implement the MI Healthy Climate Plan
● $13 million to research and implement climate-smart farming practices
● $10.3 million to address orphaned wells in Michigan
● $8.4 million to expand energy efficiency programming
● $7 million to test and deploy new mobility technologies and fill mobility gaps
● $5.5 million to provide community energy upgrades, including a community solar array and undergrounding of powerlines.
● $5 million to “Michigan Saves Greenbank” to fund clean energy in homes and businesses
● $5 million to build out the Lake Michigan EV circuit, an EV road trip around Lake Michigan
● $5 million to support proving, testing, and demonstration efforts in the mobility industry
● $3 million to make changes to our streets so they can be shared and safe for all users, including cyclists
● $2.6 million to expand the MI Healthy Climate Corps helping communities take climate action
● $1.8 million to increase opportunities for low-income residents to participate in energy rate cases
● $1.7 million to pilot new carbon tracking software and metrics for EGLE operations
● $1.4 million to expand capacity around climate and natural lands programs
● $1 million to expand activities that reduce environmental impacts in environmental justice communities
● $1 million in ongoing funds to study the needs associated with and begin to transition100% of the state’s fleet to electric
“This year’s budget makes significant commitments to addressing climate change and advancing clean transportation, which we strongly support,” stated Charles Griffith, director of the climate and energy program at the Ecology Center. “Additional support for EV charging infrastructure, transitioning the state’s own vehicle fleet to EVs, and increased funding transit and other clean mobility projects were all recommended actions as part of the Governor’s MI Healthy Climate Plan. While the Legislature chose not to fund some programs that were proposed by the Governor in her budget request, such as a sales tax waiver for new and used EVs that would help make EVs affordable to more Michiganders, we will continue working with lawmakers to find more ways to incentivize the adoption of EVs and help MI become a national leader in this transition.”
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