Nine Michigan Communities Get $3.87 Million in Clean Energy Grants
Published · Updated · 4 min read
LANSING, Michigan — Nine Michigan communities will receive a combined $3.87 million to host solar power and battery storage projects that will bring clean energy to homes and businesses across the state.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy announced the awards on February 5, 2026, as part of the seventh round of its Renewables Ready Communities program. The funding will help local governments pay for public safety, road repairs, and other essential services.
“These awards demonstrate EGLE’s commitment to partnering with communities to build Michigan’s clean energy future,” said Director Phil Roos. The program gives local governments resources to reinvest in projects that strengthen their communities.
How Communities Will Use the Money
The Renewables Ready Communities Award program offers flexible funding for improvements like road and bridge repairs, public safety upgrades, park improvements, and building projects. Communities receive the money in two parts: half when construction starts and half when the project begins operating.
Midland Township received the largest award at $750,000 for hosting Salzburg Battery Storage, a 150-megawatt project set to begin construction in June 2027.
Newberg Township in Cass County won $740,000 for the Three Lakes Solar project. Township Clerk Amanda Duff said the award will support ambulance and fire department programs, enhance ongoing Township Hall construction, and help complete road projects that were previously unbudgeted.
“We are enthusiastic about this opportunity to allocate additional resources to areas that are typically beyond our budgetary constraints,” Duff said.
Other Award Winners
Saline Township and Fairgrove Township each received $500,000 for hosting battery storage projects. Saline’s Voyager Storage project is already under construction and will begin operations in January 2027.
Lawrence Township won $425,000 for the Murch Solar project, an 85-megawatt facility currently under construction.
Coldwater Township received $375,000 for hosting the Cold Creek Energy Center, a 75-megawatt battery storage facility.
Three other communities also received awards: Grant Township got $275,000 for Northern Waters Solar, Delta County received $183,500 for Renegade Solar, and Mason Township won $120,035 for Au Gres Solar.
Program Requirements and Reach
The program provides between $2,500 and $5,000 per megawatt of renewable energy capacity. Communities that both host and permit projects receive the higher amount, while those that do either one receive the lower amount.
Projects must be at least 50 megawatts for solar and battery storage or 100 megawatts for wind energy. They must connect to the power grid and have received land use permits or site plans on or after October 1, 2023. Details on Renewables Ready Communities Award requirements are outlined in the official FAQ guide.
This latest round closes out the initial $30 million allocated in Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s fiscal year 2024 budget. By September 2025, the program had awarded more than $26 million to 43 communities across both peninsulas.
Why Battery Storage Matters
Many of the awarded projects involve battery storage, which helps stabilize Michigan’s power grid. The technology stores energy when electricity is cheap and releases it when demand and prices are high.
Battery systems help reduce power outages and improve grid reliability, especially in areas with high energy demand. They also allow utilities to make better use of solar energy by storing it during the day for use at night.
Battery storage projects also create local jobs and generate tax revenue for communities.
Part of Larger Clean Energy Push
The awards program supports Michigan’s broader clean energy goals. In 2023, Whitmer signed legislation requiring the state to get 60% of its energy from renewable sources by 2035 and reach 100% clean energy by 2040.
The state also set a target of 2,500 megawatts of energy storage capacity by 2030.
These targets are part of Michigan’s MI Healthy Climate Plan, which aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 52% from 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
Michigan currently ranks sixth nationally for clean energy jobs with approximately 127,690 workers in the sector. Clean energy jobs in the state are growing nearly twice as fast as overall employment.
What Comes Next
The program will continue with $129.1 million in federal funding from the Environmental Protection Agency. The money will expand the awards program, launch a pilot to build renewable energy on contaminated sites, and support clean energy workforce training.
The expansion comes as Michigan sees rapid growth in solar and battery projects. More than 70% of solar farms in rural areas are built on agricultural land, giving farmers a new source of income through land leases.
“Deploying renewable energy at scale is essential to meeting targets in the state’s MI Healthy Climate Plan,” Roos said. The program is a key tool for meeting the state’s renewable energy and storage goals set under the 2023 clean energy laws.
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