April 2026

A Fine, All-of-the-Above MISO Spring Day

For those who might still be skeptical about how effectively clean energy sources, like nuclear, solar and wind, can support our energy needs, here's a screenshot from Michigan grid operator MISO's dashboard showing where the grid region was getting its energy on March 20, 2026, the day before spring began.

What does it show? 43.5% of the region's energy supply came from emission-free resources (solar, nuclear, wind), with 47% coming from fossil fuels (natural gas and coal). Solar was less than 1% behind coal in generation capacity that day. At present, battery storage as a grid resource is not large enough to count.

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are rapidly changing, with Michigan on course to see at least 15 gigawatts of BESS added in the next 5 years. With more nuclear, solar, wind and battery in the pipeline, the trend toward homegrown, advanced clean energy is going to continue.

"Plug-In/Balcony Solar" Bill Introduced

MICEF backs bipartisan legislation

Rep. Will Snyder (D-Muskegon) introduced House Bill 5734 on March 19 with more than a dozen bipartisan co-sponsors. The bill adds Michigan to a list of nearly 30 state legislatures considering bills to provide a framework for residential electricity customers to add a small, simple solar generation system to their home, apartment or condominium. The systems usually consist of 2 to 4 solar panels, sometimes with a battery, that can be plugged into an ordinary wall outlet to energize the residence.

The systems are also known as "Balcony Solar" because of their original popularity in Europe with apartment dwellers placing them on their balcony railings. Other variations of the systems are marketed as camping or emergency preparedness equipment (think "My Patriot Supplies"). The core of the legislation is making sure that systems sold in Michigan meet key safety standards and that the customer's utility has no role nor assumes any liability when a system is utilized. Utah and Virginia are the first two states to approve this type of legislation. MICEF supports the bill and hopes it will gain some traction in Lansing.

House GOP Bills Would Retool Energy Plan

Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall and House Energy Committee Chair Rep. Pauline Wendzel outlined a newly introduced pair of bills, dubbed Project Lighthouse, at a March 11 press conference. House Bills 5710-5711 would retool the factors the Michigan Public Service Commission would use to approve plans and customer costs for meeting Michigan's future electric needs.

The package would reduce the focus of plans for Michigan's electric supply to only reliability and affordability - two pillars that MICEF has long supported. However, the bills would also repeal parts of the 2023 energy law that have Michigan on a path to more diversified, sustainable, local and clean energy sources. To that end, we find the plan to be insufficient, as it would retreat from the All-of-the-Above platform we promote.

Renewable energy is affordable and repealing clean energy standards isn't necessary. Likewise, advanced nuclear technologies may not be the most affordable, but they are sustainable and emission-free. Energy systems are complex and constantly changing. Simplifying policy to these two pillars might sound appealing, but it will leave important factors off the table.

The bills also repeal energy efficiency programs and an essential residential ratepayer protection program facilitated through the Utility Consumer Protection Board. These are important tools for serving utilities customers' best interests that should remain in place.

Michigan Utilities Continue Clean Energy Trend

Regulatory filings show energy priorities

In March, Consumers Energy announced that they would soon file their next Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) with the Michigan Public Service Commission as required by Michigan law. In describing their long-term plans for new energy generation, Consumers indicated they will add 13 GW of renewable energy and 1.4 GW natural gas-powered generation. This 12 to 1 investment ratio highlights renewables' cost competitiveness and "speed to market" advantage.

Meanwhile, DTE Energy's desire and effort to supply energy for data centers includes leveraging advanced, clean energy technology. For the proposed hyper-scale data center near Saline, DTE's agreement with Oracle/OpenAI includes the tech company purchasing 1.4 GW of battery storage that will be added to DTE's resource portfolio. The DTE-Google deal for a center in Van Buren Township (Wayne County) states that 90% of the new capacity added to service Google must be clean energy. Collectively, these announcements point to an irreversible trend of using Michigan-made, affordable, clean energy sources as a good business practice.

Seeking 8th Class of Pischea Fellows

MICEF’s Pischea Fellowship program is seeking its next class from among university upperclassman and graduate students. We typically select two or three fellows per class, based on the nature of their proposals and evolving energy trends. The goal is for their work to inform and advance energy policy consistent with our conservative principles.

Interested collegiate juniors, seniors, or graduate students are encouraged to review our program and apply online on our Pischea Fellowship webpage or contact MICEF Program Director Emily Pallarito Szczerowski at epallarito@micef.org.

The Latest Energy Buzz

Geothermal generation is having its moment.

The core of most electricity generation is heating water to create steam that turns a turbine (aka thermal generation). The energy information space is loaded with stories on using super high heat sources from deep underground (aka geothermal energy). The Trump administration is pushing it and private investment dollars are pouring into a "growth industry" leveraging advanced drilling technology from the oil and gas industry. As they say, "It's a thing now."

Independent Tests of Solid State Batteries

We continue to watch the independent tests of Donut Labs' solid state battery, which is also a minor obsession in the energy info-space. Thus far, the results show the battery performs as promoted. Donut still hasn't revealed or allowed independent examination of the battery's chemistry. That is likely to happen as soon as motorcycles using the batteries are expected to be shipped in Q2. Independent teardowns and reverse engineering will follow promptly.

Offshore wind fighting and surviving.

Despite a relentless onslaught of attacks by the Trump administration to block offshore wind projects, including the latest effort to bribe companies to drop projects, the industry refuses to buckle. They've won court cases to keep their projects moving and have coalesced supporters from state leadership to financiers to supply chain allies. It's a resilient industry not afraid of "headwinds."