MICHIGAN FIRST ENERGY DOMINANCE PROGRAM
The Michigan First Energy Dominance Program is one of the most comprehensive statewide grant funding programs for supporting local change in Michigan and starts the ball rolling to eliminate all taxes. We designed tjhe program from the ground up to be flexible so that grant writers have a large degree of leeway to apply for funding for projects that support energy independence, building resilient communities, and local sustainability, economic development and equitable growth in the state of Michigan. If there is a program or a project that can move us in the right direction as a state and as a nation, we will find it.
Our grant program is designed to be an accelerator for innovation that will help move Michigan closer to energy independence. By not placing arbitrary restrictions on the types of projects that can be funded, our grant program has allowed the most creative and forward-thinking ideas to move forward. Grant recipients have used the flexibility of this program to design truly unique, state-of-the-art renewable energy projects that are specifically designed for Michigan's unique assets and needs. Projects range in all types but we are pushing future techs. The types of solutions our program is incentivizing are those that can be at the nexus of technology and application, with an emphasis on those that have a clear path to implementation. Our grant program has already seen numerous success stories, with several grant-funded projects seeing notable reductions in carbon emissions and resulting in significant cost savings for communities across Michigan.
Our Energy Dominance Program is premised on the notion that the success of Michigan is directly tied to the strength of its communities. Our grant investments are designed to enable local leaders to build more economically resilient and livable communities, one neighborhood at a time. Communities across the state have successfully obtained grants for a wide range of projects, from renovating homes to be energy efficient to workforce development training in emerging green industries. The flexibility of the program has allowed communities to set their own priorities while still contributing to the state's overall energy independence objectives. For example, rural communities have been able to receive funding for distributed energy projects that not only improve grid reliability but also create local, sustainable jobs. Urban communities, on the other hand, have implemented creative transportation initiatives that reduce emissions and increase mobility for residents. This grassroots approach to the energy transition is designed to make the benefits of a 21st-century energy future tangible to Michiganders in their everyday lives.
Equity is at the center of our Energy Dominance Program. We know that in the past, accessing grant funding has been challenging, particularly for communities that don’t have existing grant-writing infrastructure in place. Our grant program is intentionally designed to break down these inequities in a few ways. First, through extensive technical assistance, we work with underresourced communities to build grant-writing capacity. Second, our evaluation criteria strongly consider projects that have a focus on remedying inequities for working americans and reaching underserved populations. Third, we are committed to transparency and equity in the grant process, which is why we will be publishing data showing exactly where the funds go as part of our application and award process. Through this equity-centered approach, Michigan can work to ensure that as we move forward to achieve 100% energy independence, we are lifting all communities.
Our Energy Dominance Program is a game changer for state investment in local, ground-up innovation. By thinking and working smarter byeliminating arbitrary restrictions on eligible projects, building extensive support for grant writers, and committing to ensuring the program’s equity in implementation. We care deeply about the Michigan people and moving our state toward its policy goals, like ending fossil fuel reliance. We hope everyone, from organizations with a history of working with state government to local groups new to policy advocacy, will continue to see how flexible funding can be applied to their work to help build a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and just Michigan.
WE WILL HAVE A DOMINATE AND PROSPEROUS MICHIGAN.
