Michigan awarded $35 million from Inflation Reduction Act to help support clean energy, high paying jobs

LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – On Friday, the Michigan Infrastructure Office announced that the U.S. Department of Energy awarded the state of Michigan $35.7 million to help support Michigan’s Clean Energy Future and high-paying jobs.

The funding will help provide Michiganders with improved access to reliable, clean energy while creating life-changing, high-paying jobs, and reducing costs for Michigan families.

This 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 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.”

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.

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.

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