In a year of uncertainty and rapid change, Michigan Saves focused on what has always mattered most—delivering affordable financing solutions that help Michigan households and businesses cut energy costs and repair their properties amid widespread financial strain. Against that backdrop, 2025 marked two important milestones for our organization. We celebrated 15 years since issuing our first home energy loan, and on a personal note, the year also marked my first year back at Michigan Saves as chief executive officer, returning to an organization I helped build at its very beginning.
The year turned turbulent in mid-February, when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency froze our federal grant funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. Even in the face of this funding freeze, Michigan Saves remained resilient, focusing on strong state and local partnerships and disciplined planning to continue delivering core programs that support Michiganders.
By meeting this time of uncertainty with resilience, focus, and purpose, we drove continued growth and impact in support of our mission.
Over the course of 2025, our team delivered tangible results for Michigan households, businesses, and communities. We brought clean energy, health, and safety improvements to over 6,500 homes and businesses across the state, totaling nearly 60,000 since our inception supported by $778 million in affordable financing that helps lower energy bills and improve long-term household stability.
Throughout the year, we were on the front lines of affordability: working directly with families, small businesses, and nonprofits struggling with rising energy costs and limited access to traditional financing. We saw firsthand how even necessary home improvements can feel out of reach without affordable options. Today, 63 percent of the households Michigan Saves serves are low to moderate income, underscoring how our financing helps reduce monthly costs and improve health and safety for the families who need it most.
We also helped several nonprofits cut utility bills with solar projects, providing bridge financing for the federal solar tax incentive while educating customers and contractors on a rapidly changing federal energy policy landscape.
At the same time, we continued to improve the health and safety of homes by expanding the reach of partnerships with the State of Michigan to replace failing septic systems and mitigate lead-based paint hazards in homes. We exceeded septic program targets by adding 81 contractors, more than doubled the number of completed lead abatement projects, and quintupled the number of lead home assessments, positioning us for continued growth and impact in 2026.
Returning to Michigan Saves reinforced what has always made this organization special: a commitment to meeting people where they are, respecting financial realities, and building practical pathways to cleaner, healthier, and more resilient communities. I am deeply grateful to our board of directors, authorized contractor network, lenders, partners, and staff for your trust, collaboration, and shared commitment. Together, we are building an organization—and a financing ecosystem—designed to deliver lasting impact across Michigan for years to come.
