Michigan Opens Nearly $10 Million in Clean Energy Grants

LANSING, Mich. — Local governments, businesses, nonprofits and tribes across Michigan have two new state grant programs to chase for clean energy projects, after a pair of state agencies opened application rounds on Monday totaling close to $10 million.

The larger pot in dollars available right now comes from the state environment and energy department, known as EGLE, which launched the first round of its MI Brightfields Pilot. The program will put $10 million in all toward renewable power and energy storage built on polluted properties, with $5 million on the table in this round and a second round set to open in spring 2027.

Solar and battery storage are the main targets, but the department says any competitive renewable or storage project on a Michigan brownfield can apply, from ground-mounted, rooftop and carport solar to wind and geothermal. Only public bodies qualify, such as counties, townships, cities and villages, city-owned electric utilities, economic development corporations and local brownfield authorities, along with the governing bodies of federally recognized tribes in Michigan. Each site must carry known contamination above the state Part 201 cleanup criteria, and no single project can receive more than $2 million. The department has scheduled an online information session for Nov. 9 at 11 a.m.

The state Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities, meanwhile posted a request for proposals for $4,875,000 through a renewable energy and electrification infrastructure grant program. That money is open to businesses, nonprofits, state and local governments and tribal governments for planning, design, purchase or construction of projects such as electrification equipment, renewable power setups, units that turn waste heat into power, biogas-fueled combined heat and power at wastewater plants, electric vehicle chargers and renewable natural gas facilities.

Proposals to the commission are due Jan. 13, 2027. Under Public Act 21 of 2026, every application will be posted publicly by Jan. 20 for a 45-day comment window open to affected local governments, environmental groups and businesses, and applicants will then have until March 22 to revise. The commission expects to name winners in summer 2027, start grants that September and require the work to wrap up by the end of 2030.

Filed under: Plymouth MI Business News