LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – the State of Michigan has been awarded $159 million through the National Solar for All program to cut residential and community solar costs. Michigan is one of 60 recipients nationwide to receive funds from the $7 billion Solar for All program.
After applying in the fall, the state is now entering a planning phase to decide the best way to help low-income households access renewable energy to lower their energy bills.
The money is part of a larger $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan from the Biden-Harris administration that uses funds from the Inflation Reduction Act.
Michigan’s Chief Climate Officer, Cory Connolly explained that the program fits perfectly into the Mi Healthy Climate Plan.
“It is a very significant program and investment that hopefully will catalyze even more work and make solar and the various benefits of it even more accessible,” Connolly said. “In the electricity sector, we set a goal of reaching 60% renewables by 2030 and residential kind of customer-enabled solar where folks can help us go faster, that is a key piece of it.”
Solar for All allocates dedicated dollars for new community and residential solar projects, and energy storage, aiming to reduce household utility bills by 20%. Connolly said a portion of the program dedicated to upgrading homes and businesses will play a role in Michigan’s climate plan in more ways than one.
Michigan’s plan outlines a need for reducing bills and increasing efficiency in built environments like homes and businesses, Connolly explained that the state intends to use as much of the funding as possible to address infrastructure updates needed to support solar. He said it will benefit homeowners by making homes healthier, safer, and more efficient.
The Department for Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and the Office of Climate and Energy now have a 12-month planning period. Connolly said they will continue to roll out more information about the funding over the next few months, but they anticipate the final program will be launched next summer.
