MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (WZMQ) – The state of Michigan has launched a new partnership with DTE Energy and Consumers Energy aimed at boosting in-state manufacturing and accelerating clean energy job growth.
Announced Wednesday at the 2025 Mackinac Policy Conference, the utilities have committed a combined $3.5 billion annually to purchase equipment, technology, and services from Michigan-based suppliers, $2 billion from DTE, and $1.5 billion from Consumers Energy. Jonathan Smith, Senior Chief Deputy Director with the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), said this will create a massive opportunity for michigan manufacturers to make more of the things utilities are going to need to buy to build out a new and more reliable energy grid over the next decade.
Though the partnership is between the two largest utilities in the lower peninsula, the plan is to eventually expand to include smaller utilities.
“We’re starting with the state’s two largest investor-owned utilities because they have so much scale. It allows us to aggregate this demand and create real market opportunities for manufacturers.” Smith said. “Our next step from here is to go out to municipal energy utilities around the state, bring them into this partnership as well.”
He emphasized that the search for manufacturers will also target businesses across the state, looking for new businesses that arent in the energy supply chain yet to give them a chance to move into the market and grow their businesses.
“Even if you’re not in one of these service areas, say you’re a manufacturer or a business, we are going to look at reaching out to businesses across the state who have the right capabilities to make some of this equipment, to help them move into these supply chains,” Smith said. “We think Michigan is already a leading state for the energy industry, and we can really grow that through this partnership with our utilities.”
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity’s Community & Worker Economic Transition Office is coordinating the effort, which includes the launch of the MI Hub for Manufacturers. The Hub will offer digital tools, expert advice, capital access, and funding opportunities to make sure small and mid-sized manufacturers have the tools they need to grow their business.
“We have these amazing organizations all over the state. There’s the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, there’s Automation Alley, there are small business development centers. These are resources that every business in the state has access to, but they can be hard to find.” Smith said. “This web resource is going to allow you to quickly find all of the different services and programs that can help you grow your business. And it will also help you if you need multiple services from multiple providers, you’ll be able to get a plan that’s right for you in one place that might involve working with multiple different entities. It’s going to make it easier for business owners to get support, to get help, and to learn about tools they might not know exist.”
DTE and Consumers Energy will work with the state to find and support Michigan-based suppliers that are manufacturing the needed solar components, long-duration battery storage systems, transformers, and other new energy technologies. Smith said the initiative is also aimed at helping utilities meet reliability and resiliency goals while controlling costs for ratepayers.
The MI Hub for Manufacturers is expected to help businesses retool facilities and retain employees as new work becomes available through utility contracts. Partners designing the platform say it demonstrates how government, philanthropy, and industry can work together to deliver practical value to small and mid-sized businesses.
More information is available at Michigan.gov/EconomicTransition.
