Michigan Department of Natural Resources Renewable Energy Consultant

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Michigan Energy Options (MEO), along with partners Elevate Energy and SunStore Energy, is proud to be supporting the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in its efforts to incorporate renewable energy into its operations. DNR is the first state agency in Michigan to embark on such a goal.

MEO and its partners are providing a comprehensive range of services to help DNR achieve its renewable energy goals. This includes conducting a thorough solar feasibility study of dozens of DNR properties and facilities across the state, creating request for proposals (RFPs) for large-scale and distributed solar projects, and developing an “Energy Transition Plan” for the state agency—the first of its kind in the State of Michigan government.

One of the key strategies being developed is to deploy solar on marginal lands using environmentally friendly best practices. This will help reduce or even eliminate the DNR’s energy costs, while also maximizing revenue from leasing properties for renewable energy projects across their land holdings of 4.6 million acres.

The first phase of this multi-year contract includes the installation of distributed solar at the Oden Fish Hatchery, located near Petoskey. This will include solar panels on its visitor center and adjacent isolation building. DNR received support for the visitor center solar from the Frey Family Fund, a donor-advised fund of the Charlevoix County Community Foundation, along with donations from the Friends of Oden.

Looking ahead, DNR anticipates releasing two RFPs in the summer of 2020 for land leases for utility-scale projects at former mining sites in the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. These marginal-land sites could potentially support more than 100 megawatts of solar power. To help prepare prospective solar developers for these opportunities, MEO, along with the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council, provided an informational webinar in May 2020.

MEO is excited to be at the forefront of this groundbreaking project and looks forward to continuing to work with DNR to incorporate renewable energy into its operations. With this initiative, Michigan is taking a significant step forward in its transition to a more sustainable future.


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Clara Guggemos

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Clara joined MEO in August 2021 and currently works as the Community Energy Specialist for the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s Hometown Energy Savers program. Clara is pursuing degrees in energy management and building construction through the Lansing Community College Alternative Energy Program. In their free time, Clara enjoys embroidering, mountain biking, and kayaking.

Jen Tucker
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Jen serves the Upper Peninsula as the Community Development Manager at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  With over 12 years of experience working in community development in the UP, and over 19 years of experience as a snow shoveling resident of the region, she works to achieve Yooper status.  She is armed with experience working at the local, county and state level, and has enjoyed a wide variety of other professional opportunities including wildland firefighting, instructing earth science courses, fundraising, and event planning. Jen attended Northern Michigan University for Environmental Conservation and Eastern Michigan University for Urban and Regional Planning. Jen spends most of her free time outside in the Great Lakes State, playing with her dog Peete, watching football, and working on her house. Her passion for music and cooking keep her thinking creatively and trying new things in all aspects of her life.

Nick Occhipinti

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Nick Occhipinti is the State Government Affairs Director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.  Nick has a broad range of environmental policy experience having served as the Policy and Community Activism Director for the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), worked as a staffer for the Chair of Hawaii’s State Senate Energy and Environment Committee, in Lansing for the Granholm administration, and at the Rocky Mountain Institute.  He has also worked directly in communities as a field organizer for the Obama campaign in 2008 and as a Corps Member for AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science and a Masters degree in Public Policy.

Abby Corso
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Abigail is the Chief Strategy Officer at Elevate Energy, located in Chicago, Illinois. In this role, she oversees Elevate’s strategy in developing new programs nationwide from energy efficiency, solar, and planning including building up Elevate’s existing dynamic pricing and flagship multifamily building retrofit programs. Prior to this role, she served as Chief Program Officer and Director of New Market Initiatives, and was responsible for expanding Elevate’s affordable multifamily energy efficiency programs into new markets outside of the Chicago region including Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Oregon. Prior to joining Elevate Energy in 2012, Abigail was a Managing Director at the Delta Institute where she managed Delta’s sustainability consulting and industrial pollution prevention and energy efficiency program areas which included developing energy efficiency loan products for various Midwest initiatives.

Nathalie Osborn

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Dr. Jessica Thompson
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Michelle Jackson
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Michelle Jackson is a fourth-generation farmer and the founder of Sustainable Community Farms. Michelle works hard on behalf of her community with the goal of uplifting the quality of life for those that live, work, and visit the neighborhoods. As the Executive Director of Sustainable Community Farms, she engages her community by organizing and presenting diverse platforms, for community members of all ages to participate in finding solutions to solving community issues. Michelle works collaboratively to transform the urban landscape diverse methods such as compost and compost systems. Michelle also has a passion for working on climate change issues, using her knowledge and expertise to introduce residents to the information needed to help them connect the dots between climate change and their everyday lives. Michelle’s work on climate change and urban farming has earned her an invitation to the White House to speak about Climate Change and its effects on small farmers. Michelle has also earned a seat on the Environmental Justice Work Group, appointed by Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of the 13th District.

Chuck Hookham
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Kimberly Sterner

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John A. Kinch, PhD
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Since 2010, John A. Kinch has directed Michigan Energy Options, emphasizing innovative and collaborative projects between the public and private sectors. Under John, MEO’s community-based work has expanded across the state and its revenue has diversified. John has been in the nonprofit sector for three decades, including working in international conservation and in Michigan universities. On sunny days at MEO’s East Lansing Office, John enjoys going into the basement to listen to the inverter for our rooftop solar system whirring away, making renewable power.

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Michael Larson
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Michael J. Larson oversees the daily operations of Michigan Energy Options and manages projects across the state. Michael’s duties include clean energy consulting, oversight of utility energy waste reduction programs, and leading MEO’s community engagement on energy issues in the U.P. Michael has a Master of Public Administration and has been working with MEO since 2011. He currently serves as a Commissioner for the City of Marquette and as a board member for Michigan Saves, a nonprofit green bank.

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Brandon Kawalec
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Brandon Kawalec joined MEO in 2015 and currently manages the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s Hometown Energy Savers residential programs. Brandon is a Michigan State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Agriscience. Brandon enjoys bicycling, tennis and golf in his free time.

Angela Marez

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Angela joined MEO in 2021 and serves as a Program Manager for Energy Smart, Energy Optimization, and the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s Hometown Energy Savers. Prior to joining MEO, she served as a multi-family Property Manager with experience in tax-credit and low-income programs.  In her free time, Angela enjoys camping, gardening, and raising Monarch butterflies.

Lauren Chapman
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Lauren joined MEO in May 2019 and currently serves as Program Coordinator for the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s (BWL) Hometown Energy Savers program. Lauren primarily runs the High Efficiency Products rebate program for both BWL and the Upper Peninsula’s Energy Innovations Collaborative program. In their free time, Lauren enjoys reading, board games, horror movies, and spending time outdoors.

Bob Tinker
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Nicki Rossi

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