5 surprising facts about renewable energy growth in Michigan
Michigan produces 2.5 times as much energy from the sun and wind as it did a decade ago. Find more clean energy facts here.
According to Renewables on the Rise 2024, the eighth edition of our annual report on the state of clean energy in America, Michigan now generates 4,500% more solar power and 118% more wind power than it did in 2014. This increase means that we can power an additional 570,290 households each year with clean energy.
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Here are five interesting facts about clean energy’s growth in Michigan:
1. Michigan generated more solar energy in 2023 alone than all solar generation before 2021 combined.
Michigan produced 1,610 GWh of solar energy last year, up from 35 GWh in 2014. This was enough to bring us to 24th place in the national solar rankings.
2. Battery storage is still very new to Michigan, but we’re 36th in the country for installed capacity.
In 2023, Michigan set targets to reach 2.5 GW of energy storage by 2030. We can expect significant growth in the next few years.
3. There were 45,588 all electric vehicles registered in Michigan in 2023.
The number of EVs has grown 4197% since 2014. Michigan is ranked 18th in the country in terms of EV growth in the past 10 years.
4. Michigan added 649 EV charging ports in 2023.
This was a 24% increase from 2022 and a 364% increase from 2014. Michigan now ranks 17th in the country in EV charging ports installed.
5. Michigan is generating more than double the wind energy we did in 2014.
Though wind energy was down across the board in 2023, we’ve still seen significant growth since 2014. Michigan is ranked 16th in the country in wind generation with 8,447 GWh generated in 2023.
When we replace fossil fuels with wind turbines and solar panels, and curb wasteful uses of energy, we build a world where the planet and people can thrive.Johanna Neumann
Senior Director of the Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy, Environment America Research & Policy Center
Our clean energy growth over the past 10 years has proven the viability and significance of these renewable energy sources. By taking advantage of the opportunities to continue these trends, Michigan can accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
What can state and local leaders do to keep renewable energy growing?
State and local governments can support renewable energy by:
- setting renewable energy goals with clear benchmarks
- leveraging federal resources to reach renewable energy goals.
- ensuring that utility policies fairly compensate the owners of renewable energy technologies
- support policies for permitting and interconnection that make adopting renewable energy technologies easier.
- expand efficiency programs, including updating energy codes for buildings and adopting the latest appliance efficiency standards.
You can help renewable energy continue to grow in Michigan by taking action below.
Topics
Authors
Johanna Neumann
Senior Director, Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy, Environment America
Johanna directs strategy and staff for Environment America's energy campaigns at the local, state and national level. In her prior positions, she led the campaign to ban smoking in all Maryland workplaces, helped stop the construction of a new nuclear reactor on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and helped build the support necessary to pass the EmPOWER Maryland Act, which set a goal of reducing the state’s per capita electricity use by 15 percent. She also currently serves on the board of Community Action Works. Johanna lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her family, where she enjoys growing dahlias, biking and the occasional game of goaltimate.
Evan Jones
Former Go Solar, Associate, Environment America Research & Policy Center
Find Out More
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