January 2026 – South Dakota State University recently featured Michaels Energy and CEO Jeff Ihnen in its Fall 2025 issue of Impulse magazine, highlighting the company’s national impact on utility energy efficiency, continued growth as a multi-time Inc. 5000 honoree, and its role in shaping the future of grid reliability through innovation; including thermal energy storage solutions like IceRack®.
The corporate profile traces Jeff’s journey from South Dakota State University mechanical engineering graduate to CEO and majority owner of Michaels Energy and explores how the firm is helping utilities reduce peak demand, optimize energy systems, and prepare for a rapidly changing energy landscape.
An Engineering Foundation That Shaped a Career
Jeff Ihnen is a 1989 mechanical engineering graduate of South Dakota State University. After completing his undergraduate studies, he served as a nuclear reactor plant fluid systems engineer in the U.S. Navy, gaining deep experience in complex energy systems and operations. He later earned a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, supported by research funded through the Electric Power Research Institute.
That technical foundation continues to inform Jeff’s leadership approach today; grounded in engineering rigor, systems thinking, and practical problem-solving.
Growing Michaels Energy into a National Leader
Jeff joined Michaels Energy (then Michaels Engineering) in 1996 and became CEO in 2016. Since then, the firm has experienced significant growth, expanding from a regional consultancy to a national energy management and sustainability partner serving utilities across the United States.
Today, Michaels Energy:
- Employs approximately 120 professionals
- Operates offices across multiple regions, including the Midwest, Southeast, and Mountain West
- Supports utility programs coast to coast
- Has been recognized as an Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Company for three consecutive years
The company works closely with utilities to help large commercial and industrial customers optimize HVAC, lighting, refrigeration, and other energy-intensive systems, reducing peak demand while maintaining performance and reliability.
Preparing the Grid for What’s Next
As utilities face unprecedented challenges, from electrification and data center growth to constraints on new generation, Michaels Energy is focused on solutions that go beyond traditional energy efficiency.
One emerging area of focus is virtual power plants, which coordinate hundreds or thousands of distributed energy resources to support grid operations. As Jeff notes in the South Dakota State University feature, thermal energy storage can play a critical role in making these systems more effective.
“A virtual power plant network can be supplemented with thermal storage.”
This is where IceRack® thermal energy storage fits into the broader grid strategy. By shifting cooling loads away from peak demand periods, IceRack® helps utilities and customers:
- Reduce peak load and infrastructure strain
- Improve grid reliability
- Avoid or defer costly generation and transmission investments
- Support decarbonization goals without sacrificing resilience
While energy efficiency remains a core part of Michaels Energy’s work, the firm sees integrated solutions like thermal storage as essential to meeting the grid challenges ahead.
Investing in the Next Generation of Engineers
Jeff’s connection to South Dakota State University extends well beyond the classroom. Michaels Energy is a diamond-level partner of the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering, supporting STEM outreach programs for middle school students and helping expose young learners to careers in engineering and energy.
In addition, Jeff has:
- Funded the Michaels Energy Scholarship in Mechanical Engineering
- Made a long-term commitment to South Dakota State University through his estate plan
- Returned to campus regularly to engage with faculty and students on research aligned with real-world energy challenges
“I have a lot of loyalty to South Dakota State University and had a good experience there,” Jeff shared. “The excellence I experienced there needs to still be there for future students.”
Leadership Rooted in Purpose and Impact
The South Dakota State University feature underscores what has defined Michaels Energy for more than four decades: a commitment to practical innovation, measurable impact, and long-term partnerships.
From improving energy efficiency programs to advancing thermal energy storage and grid solutions, Michaels Energy continues to help utilities fulfill their most critical mission –keeping the lights on while building a more efficient, resilient energy future.
Read the Full Feature
This article is based on “Corporate Profile: Michaels Energy Puts Nation’s Utilities on More Efficient Path,” originally published in South Dakota State University’s Fall 2025 issue of Impulse magazine.
Read the full magazine feature on the SDState website