Roadmaps explore geothermal, solar, wind, clean tech

EGLE informational webpage digs into Michigan clean energy assets

A new Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) webpage serves up the latest details about three of the state’s key renewable energy sources: geothermal, solar, and wind.

For each source, the Clean Energy Assets page features a “roadmap” report focusing on demand, supply and value chains, workforce, growth, and recommendations. These roadmaps offer strategic guidance for economic development efforts to accelerate innovation and commercial activity and are expected to help set priorities, allocate resources, align stakeholders, and focus efforts statewide.

The webpage is intended for use by elected officials, government employees, business owners, planners, developers, industry and commercial stakeholders, and the public. It soon will add a database of clean energy technological assets and suppliers, with information including:

• Which businesses have considered renewable and clean-energy technologies in their facilities.
• Geographic locations of businesses providing technical resources for renewable and clean energy.

Renewable and clean-energy industries represent a multibillion-dollar economic opportunity for Michigan. They also align with the state’s obligation within the U.S. Climate Alliance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and with MI Healthy Climate Plan goals for a prosperous, equitable, carbon-neutral state economy by 2050.

The roadmaps are the product of the state’s Clean Energy Asset Roadmap Program (CEARP). In 2021, EGLE announced nearly $412,000 in CEARP grants to two recipients: Lawrence Technological University, whose Centrepolis Accelerator received $299,965 to develop a renewable energy asset roadmap and a geothermal asset roadmap; and the University of Michigan, whose Economic Growth Institute received $111,950 to develop a clean-energy technology development roadmap.

The roadmaps aim to quantify or map each energy sector and identify, evaluate, and detail opportunities to significantly speed their growth. They focus specifically on industry and manufacturing adopting clean-energy technologies and techniques in energy production and energy efficiency. Each roadmap is available for download:

• Geothermal Roadmap
• Solar Roadmap
• Wind Roadmap

Industry roadmaps provide strategic guidance for economic development efforts to accelerate innovation and commercial activity and are a dynamic tool for setting priorities, allocating resources, aligning stakeholders, and focusing efforts. Findings will supply EGLE and the Council on Climate Solutions with critical information to support statewide strategy for decarbonization.

Learn more by registering for the following webinars:

• Renewable Energy (geothermal, solar, wind) Webinar, 11 a.m. Feb. 28.
• Clean Energy Technology Development Webinar, 11 a.m. March 2.

$1.73 million in EGLE brownfield funding to help redevelop contaminated sites in West Michigan

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has awarded $1.73 million in brownfield grants for redevelopment of contaminated properties in West Michigan. Overall, in 2022 EGLE will provide $20.7 million in brownfield funding to 67 projects statewide.

The plans include a multi-phased mixed-use development within the Boston Square Neighborhood of Grand Rapids, commercial condominiums in Grand Haven and a residential development in Grand Rapids.

More than half of EGLE’s budget each year flows into Michigan communities through grants, loans and other spending that supports local projects, protects public health and the environment, ultimately creating economic growth and jobs for Michigan workers. When brownfields – vacant or abandoned properties with known or suspected contamination – are redeveloped, property values increase both on the revitalized site awards and on other nearby properties.

EGLE’s Remediation and Redevelopment Division provides financial and technical assistance including grants, loans, tax increment financing and free site assessments to facilitate the redevelopment of brownfield properties.

Boston Square Neighborhood in Grand Rapids

The city of Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority plans to use a $1 million EGLE brownfield grant to address environmental contamination in the Boston Square Neighborhood in Grand Rapids, and make way for a multi-phase, mixed-use development that was collaboratively designed with neighbors. The community-focused development will begin with the construction of two mixed-use buildings, which will contain 102 mixed-income residential apartments and 16,000-square-feet of commercial space for local entrepreneurs. Future phases of the development are anticipated to include additional mixed-income residential apartments and townhomes, commercial spaces for local entrepreneurs, a community hub with early learning, an amphitheater, and a public park.

“The City of Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority is grateful to receive this grant from EGLE for the Boston Square Together project,” said Jonathan Klooster, executive director of the city of Grand Rapids Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. “EGLE has come alongside our existing community partnership with Boston Square Neighborhood Association, Oakdale Neighbors and Amplify GR and this award puts us one step closer to kicking off a significant part of the overall project.”

The contamination on the site is believed to be a remnant of historical property uses, which included gasoline service stations, various auto service, repair and sales operations, and numerous other commercial and light manufacturing operations. Contamination also resulted from both the placement of urban fill on the property and the former presence of railroad spurs.

The EGLE grant will pay for demolition, environmental investigation, disposal of contaminated soil, and installation of barriers and  ventilation systems beneath the future buildings to prevent potential exposure to residual contamination.

“Through our partnership with EGLE and the city of Grand Rapids, the Boston Square Together project can ensure the landscape is clean and healthy for current and future generations of neighbors,” shared Jon Ippel, executive director at Amplify GR. “We are appreciative of the collaboration that affirms neighbors’ desires to one day achieve environmental justice.”

The city of Grand Rapids has also approved several other brownfield incentives to help pay for other environmental costs, and site and public improvements. Once complete, the project is expected to create at least 24 part-time jobs and 24 full-time jobs, increase the City’s tax base, and revitalize over 10 acres of property in an area that has suffered decades of disinvestment.

(EGLE site contact: Andrea Ryswick, Brownfield Coordinator, [email protected], 616-401-0827)

815 Verhoeks Street in Grand Haven

Three new, five-unit commercial condominiums will be constructed at 815 Verhoeks Street in Grand Haven after the site’s environmental contamination is addressed with assistance from a $300,000 EGLE brownfield grant. The redevelopment will encompass 16,000 square feet, providing space for local artisans, small incubator businesses and private storage.

The property historically operated as a gasoline filling station and bulk oil storage facility. The contamination at the property is the result of leaking fuel from storage tanks associated with a former site use.

EGLE awarded the Grand Haven Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (GHBRA) the grant to help facilitate the redevelopment and ensure the property is safe for reuse. The funding will be used for additional environmental investigation, disposal of contaminated soil, and installation of barriers and ventilation systems beneath the future buildings to prevent potential exposure to any residual contamination.

“For decades we have looked at a dilapidated building and have worried about groundwater contamination from this orphan site. Now we will see a redeveloped, prosperous property returning value to the community,” said Joy Gaasch, president of the GHBRA. “This would have been impossible without the support of the EGLE brownfield grant funding.”

Once complete, the project is expected to create five-to-seven full-time and 20 part-time jobs, increase the city’s tax base and encourage investment in the surrounding properties.

(EGLE site contact: Douglas Koop, Brownfield Coordinator,[email protected], 517-245-5054)

1603 Diamond Avenue NE in Grand Rapids

Metric Structures Inc. will construct a new multi-building residential development at 1603 Diamond Avenue NE and 1600 County Club Drive NE in Grand Rapids after environmental contamination is addressed through assistance from a $430,000 EGLE brownfield grant.

Historically, 1603 Diamond Avenue NE operated as a gas station, which resulted in soil and groundwater contamination.

In 2018, as part of a state-funded effort to remove the contaminated soil, approximately 2,655 tons of soil was removed. At that time, it was found that contamination likely extended beneath the onsite building, but it was unable to be removed without compromising the structure. New property ownership has resulted in a plan to revitalize the space into a vibrant new residential development. The development will require the demolition of the existing building, allowing for the removal of contaminated soils that were previously inaccessible.

EGLE awarded the grant to the city of Grand Rapids Economic Development Corporation to help facilitate the redevelopment and ensure the property is safe for reuse. The grant will be used for demolition of the building, environmental investigations, removal of contaminated soil, and installation of barriers and ventilation systems beneath the future buildings to prevent potential exposure to any residual contamination.

“The City of Grand Rapids Economic Development Corporation is grateful to EGLE for their investment in the cleanup efforts of this project,” said Jonathan Klooster, executive director for the city of Grand Rapids Economic Development Corporation. “Our partnership continues to make urban infill projects like this financially feasible and helps to incrementally increase housing supply in our community.”

Once complete, the $8 million project is expected to remove blight, create one new part-time job and increase the State Equalized Value of the property by approximately $5.8 million.

(EGLE site contact: Andrea Ryswick, Brownfield Coordinator, [email protected], 616-401-0827)

EGLE celebrates 50 years of the Clean Water Act

Webinar series marks a half century of landmark federal protection for waterways

The federal Clean Water Act (CWA) took effect Oct. 18, 1972, regulating discharges of pollutants into U.S. waters and setting quality standards for surface waters. Now, 50 years later, Michigan is marking the anniversary of the landmark legislation with a three-week educational webinar series. “This is a great time to reflect on a historic turning point for environmental protection,” said Liesl Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the agency responsible for implementing  the CWA in Michigan.Clark said the Act has been especially impactful in Michigan, which sits in the center of the Great Lakes ecosystem containing one-fifth of the planet’s fresh surface water. “The resolve and foresight that produced the Clean Water Act also drives EGLE’s mission to protect Michigan’s environment and public health by managing our water and other natural resources.”

From 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Oct. 4, EGLE invites anyone with an interest in Michigan history and protecting the state’s water resources to virtually attend “50 Years of the Clean Water Act: An Overview of the Clean Water Act and its History and Significance in Michigan.” The program provides a historical perspective on the events that led to the Clean Water Act, an overview of important changes implemented, and what it all meant for Michigan. Online registration is open for the Oct. 4 webinar and the two others in the series:

• “Success Stories of the Clean Water Act in Michigan,” 10:30 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Oct. 11.
• “Remaining Challenges of the Clean Water Act in Michigan,” 11 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Oct. 18.

About the Clean Water Act

The CWA is the primary federal statute regulating protection of the nation’s waters. It developed out of growing public concern in the 1960s and 1970s over substantial pollution entering the nation’s waterways. Over the past half century, it has transformed water quality in lakes, rivers, streams, and oceans across the United States.

The Act significantly amended a 1940s-era water pollution control law and established the basic framework for regulating the discharge of pollutants to lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands; and for protecting water resources. Since the Act’s implementation and amendments over the years, Michigan and the U.S. have taken significant steps to meet its goals to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters.

Under the CWA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented pollution control programs such as setting wastewater standards for industry and developed national water quality criteria recommendations for pollutants in surface waters. The CWA made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters without a permit.

In Michigan, water quality has significantly improved. The CWA requires the state to submit a biennial Integrated Report on the quality of its water resources to the EPA and U.S. Congress. The 2020 and 2022 reports are available online.

Learn more about the CWA and its use in protecting and restoring water resources nationwide in “50 Years of the Clean Water Act,” a multimedia presentation by the Association of Clean Water Administrators – an independent, nonpartisan, national organization of state, interstate, and territorial water program managers.

Keep up on EGLE events and activities surrounding the CWA’s 50th anniversary at michigan.gov/CWA50.