By Lily Guiney
Staff Writer
Posted: May 29, 2024 8:54 PM

MACKINAC ISLAND — Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined state and local leaders in housing and clean energy projects Wednesday to announce new goals for increasing housing inventory and supplying homeowners with subsidies for renewable energy sources that could decrease utility costs.

Michigan State Housing Development Authority Director Amy Hovey and Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Director Phil Roos appeared alongside Whitmer and local housing and energy stakeholders in a press conference at the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference. At the 2021 conference, Whitmer set a goal of permitting, building, or rehabbing 75,000 additional units in five years – by September 2026 – an amount she increased to 115,000 in the Tuesday announcement.

"This year, we're making the largest housing investment in Michigan's history to build or rehab 115,000 units, driving toward a shared goal," Whitmer said. "At the 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference, we set a goal of permitting, building or rehabbing 75,000 units in five years. So, by September of next year, but guess what? We are way ahead of schedule. We already met that goal this month."

Hovey said the earlier-than-expected completion of the 2021 goal can be attributed to the success of various MSHDA programs resulting from the agency's regional housing partnerships, such as the Missing Middle grant program and the MI Neighborhood credit.

"One thing that all of those programs have in common is that they are flexible," Hovey said. "They're easy to access, and they have removed the barriers that have prevented people from entering in building up in the fight to create affordable housing to make sure that every Michigander has a home that they can afford."

The second element of Whitmer's announcement was the influx of federal money headed towards lowering energy costs for Michigan homeowners, with $367 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's Home Energy Rebates and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Solar for All programs slated for investment in Michigan. $210.8 million will be directed to Home Energy Rebate Programs, $105.6 million of which is specifically designated for Home Efficiency Rebates, and $105.2 million of which will be allocated for Home Electrification and Appliance rebates.

Roos said the federal dollars will make it easier for homeowners to replace old or inefficient appliances and utilities with newer, more environmentally friendly models without the financial pressure to pay themselves.

"These programs will help at least 28,000 families across the state for the focus on families with the most need," Roos said. "Not only are these big programs for the environment, but they're good for the pocketbook, and they're good for our communities. These programs will allow families to have access to rooftop solar energy efficiency measures and efficient appliances and more without having to pay for their own pockets. It will lessen the burden of paying utility bills for families trying to make ends meet."

EGLE already helps provide community solar projects statewide, but Roos said the new funds will help significantly expand those abilities. EGLE will also assist in the rollout of funds and the community application process.

"They are rolled out through our Energy Services Unit within EGLE," Roos said. "They're going to administer the grants for both home energy rebates and the MI Healthy Solar plan. And there's also some technical assistance that's going to be provided, particularly on the solar, because, you know, you've got communities that are working on this, (who may need help) filling out the application."

Whitmer said that qualifying families could see their bills reduced by an average of 20 percent with the available rebates.

"Making these upgrades is going to save more than 28,000 households a heck of a lot of money and improve the quality of life," Whitmer said. Lower income households can see their bills drop by an average of 20 percent, and they can live in a nicer, more affordable, comfortable space. So just think about what that quality of life means for people."

The dissemination of the federal funding will occur over the course of the next year.