Michigan Saves Commercial Clean Energy Financing
Michigan Saves
$5,000+
Affordable business clean-energy loans
Michigan Saves is the nation's first nonprofit green bank, leveraging private capital to make clean-energy financing affordable for Michigan businesses, nonprofits, multifamily properties, and public buildings. Its commercial program finances energy-efficiency and renewable-energy improvements through a network of mission-aligned lenders, with loans starting at $5,000 and running into the hundreds of thousands. More than 150 measures qualify — including solar PV, HVAC, LED lighting, building envelope, and EV charging stations. Standard interest rates start around 6.00%–7.25% APR, and through utility partnerships with DTE, Consumers Energy, and SEMCO, qualifying commercial and municipal customers can access rates as low as 0% APR for certain measures. The program is active in 2026.
- Funding type
- Loan
- Level
- State
- Amount range
- $5,000+
- Realistic amount
- Most small-business Michigan Saves commercial loans fall in the $5,000–$150,000 range for li…
- Deadline
- Rolling — financing is available year-round through authorized lenders and contractors.
- Status
- active
- States
- Michigan
- Payment model
- loan
Who qualifies
- Michigan-based for-profit business, nonprofit, multifamily property owner, or public/affordable-housing building owner
- Project must be an eligible energy-efficiency or renewable-energy improvement (150+ qualifying measures)
- Work must be performed by a Michigan Saves authorized contractor
- Minimum financing amount $5,000
- Borrower must meet the participating lender's credit underwriting
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
- High-efficiency HVAC and boiler systems
- Indoor LED lighting and occupancy sensors
- Insulation and building envelope / roofing improvements
- High-efficiency water heaters
- Commercial kitchen equipment (qualifying)
- Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations
Ineligible expenses
- Measures not on the Michigan Saves approved list
- Work performed by a non-authorized contractor
- General business expenses unrelated to the energy improvement
- Projects below the $5,000 minimum
How to apply
-
1
Submit an interest form
Complete the Michigan Saves commercial interest form describing your project and property.
~1 hrs
-
2
Work with an authorized contractor
Select a Michigan Saves authorized contractor to scope the project and confirm which of the 150+ eligible measures apply (solar, HVAC, LED lighting, envelope, EV charging, etc.).
~3 hrs
-
3
Apply for financing through a mission-aligned lender
Apply with one of Michigan Saves' commercial lenders. Check whether your utility (DTE, Consumers Energy, SEMCO) offers a 0% APR special on your measures.
~3 hrs
-
4
Receive approval and complete work
On approval, the lender funds the project (often prefunding 50–75% to the contractor) and you repay over a term up to 84 months.
~2 hrs
Before you sign a standard 6–7% APR loan, check whether your utility (DTE, Consumers Energy, or SEMCO) has a 0% APR special for your specific measure through Michigan Saves — for insulation, HVAC, and lighting the 0% offers can effectively make the financing free. Use an authorized contractor or you forfeit eligibility.
Deadline & timing
No application window. Borrowers work with a Michigan Saves authorized contractor and apply through one of the program's mission-aligned commercial lenders.
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Last reviewed 2026. GrantCompass is an independent funding-discovery tool and is not affiliated with any government agency. Always confirm details on the official program page.