Press Release

December 04, 2019

ELPC Report Finds Over 300 Companies Power Michigan’s Clean Energy Supply Chain.

Economic impact of jobs in renewable energy supply chain benefits entire state, but better clean energy policies are needed for economic growth.

The Environmental Law & Policy Center released “Michigan Clean Energy Supply Chain: Good for Manufacturing Jobs, Good for Economic Growth and Good for Our Environment,” a directory of 316 Michigan companies in the clean energy supply chain and a policy road map for the state’s clean energy future.

“Smart policies make a difference,” said ELPC Executive Director Howard A. Learner. “To keep growing Michigan jobs and businesses in the renewable energy supply chain, Michigan must adopt supportive policies that help drive the market.”

The more than 300 Michigan businesses listed in the report range from wind farms in the U.P. to component manufacturers on the edge of the Thumb, but also include engineering and design firms, installers, repair services, construction firms and insurers, showing how clean energy spurs job growth throughout the economy.

“Clean energy in Michigan is a strong, growing sector of the economy,” said ELPC Michigan Senior Attorney Margrethe Kearney. “It just needs the Legislature and Public Service Commission to get rid of some of the regulatory hurdles and unnecessary costs that discourage companies from investing in renewables.”

“As a Michigan homegrown construction company for nearly 100 years and the largest employer of union trade labor, we have put thousands of Michigan residents to work on wind, solar and environmental projects across our great state,” said Matt Lentini, Vice President of Energy for Southfield-based Barton Malow. “At Barton Malow, our core purpose is to Build with the American Spirit: People, Projects and Communities. Building clean energy projects allows us to do just that and we urge the state to continue to create policies that support clean energy.”

Barton Malow has installed multiple environmental upgrade projects and built solar projects for DTE and Consumers Energy. They have also completed 11 wind projects across the state and are currently building two. The Gratiot Wind Farm and the Fairbanks Wind Farm will be online by the end of 2020.

With manmade climate change a topic on the nation’s mind, Michigan has seen the election of a new wave of politicians who put the environment in the forefront of their campaigns.

“Now is the chance for Michigan to put those words into deeds and create a state where cheap, clean, reliable energy is for everyone,” Kearney said.