Michigan continues to lead in clean energy jobs and investment, report says

Solar panels outside the Michigan Public Service Commission in Lansing. | Kyle Davidson

Over the past year, Michigan lawmakers have taken a number of steps to clear the way for an energy transition, setting clean energy goals , altering the state’s siting process for large-scale renewable and battery storage projects and ensuring homeowners can make energy-saving improvements to their homes.

As policymakers continue to push the state toward a clean energy future, a new report from Climate Power — a communications firm focused on building support for climate action — says Michigan continues to lead the nation in Inflation Reduction Act projects, bringing in more than $25 billion in new investments across the state.

Since August 2022, companies have announced or advanced projects accounting for more than 312,900 new clean jobs, according to the report. Of that number Michigan has gained 21,490 new jobs.

Of the 585 projects hosting these new jobs, the majority are concentrated in five states: Michigan, Texas, Georgia, California and South Carolina. Michigan has courted the largest share, collecting 58 new projects, with Texas coming in second at 46 and Georgia coming in third with 41.

Michigan also led the nation in clean energy projects in 2023, per another report from Climate Power which projected the state will cultivate 167,000 energy jobs over the next decade.

Continuing a trend from the 2023 previous report, the majority of  new clean energy projects across the U.S. are located in congressional districts represented by Republican members of the House of Representatives. Almost 182,000 new jobs and $282.1 billion in investments were brought in by 321 clean energy projects in 146 districts held by Republicans across the nation.

The report also detailed the investments these projects are bringing into rural and low-income communities.

In Michigan, 24 projects had created 14,306 jobs in low-income areas, bringing in almost $11.76 billion in investments. In rural parts of the state, seven projects have brought in $5.9 billion of investment and created 3,086 jobs.

In a statement released in early July , Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and U.S. Reps. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) and Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) cheered the state’s efforts to secure federal funding.

“Michigan put the world on wheels, and now we’re leading the country in ushering in a new era of transportation and clean energy,” Dingell said in a statement. “I’m proud to have worked with my colleagues in Congress to secure investments that are powering the future of clean energy, mobility, and sustainability in Michigan in the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will continue to work with Governor Whitmer and all our partners to get this funding into our communities.”

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