Our Bold Goal for Michigan’s Clean Energy Future
Net zero carbon emissions by 2050
Climate change is one of the defining issues of our era. That’s why DTE Electric is taking bold steps to significantly increase our investments in renewable energy and cut carbon emissions in half over the next 10 years to reach our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. DTE Gas plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions through an innovative plan that includes both its suppliers and customers. By 2050, the DTE Gas Net Zero Plan will reduce carbon emissions by 6 million metric tons per year ― the equivalent of taking 1.3 million cars off the road.
Our clean energy efforts are an important part of our mission in providing you with safe, reliable and affordable power.
EXPLORE THE ROAD MAP- 2018
- 2023
- 2028
- 2040
- 2050
- WIND
- NUCLEAR
- SOLAR
- COAL
- Natural Gas
Slide to see target carbon emissions reduction goals over time.
How We Get There
We are in the midst of an important and fundamental transformation in the way we produce energy in our state, accelerating coal plant retirements and investing in cleaner Michigan-made energy, including wind and solar parks and a natural gas plant. We’re also providing options for customers to save money and energy through our expanded energy efficiency programs and are offering residential and business customers the opportunity to buy more clean energy to meet their own sustainability goals.
Like all big transformations, the shift to cleaner energy won’t happen overnight, but it has already begun. DTE has 18 wind parks and 32 solar parks, and by 2023, we will have cut carbon emissions by 32% since 2005.
Our bold net zero carbon emissions goal sets the framework for DTE to go beyond its existing commitments to reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2028 and 80% by 2040, ensuring our medium- and long-term plans align with the scientific consensus around the importance of achieving significant economy-wide emissions reduction by 2050.
Our Balanced Energy Mix
= Cleaner Energy Source
= Emissions Free Energy Source
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WIND
DTE’s renewable energy portfolio includes 18 wind parks, located mainly in Michigan’s Thumb region and in the middle of the state. Our 19th wind park, Meridian, is under construction and will be Michigan’s largest when it begins operations in the second quarter of 2022. When Meridian Wind comes online, DTE’s renewable energy portfolio will include more than 1900 MW of wind energy. DTE’s wind parks are generating more than clean energy; they’re also helping to strengthen Michigan’s economy. Rural communities around the state are receiving added tax revenue and farmers and others who participate in our projects benefit from the extra income these projects provide. Our wind parks also offer additional, local employment opportunities before, during and after a park is built.
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SOLAR
DTE has big plans to add even more solar energy to the grid, enabling customers to benefit from this clean energy resource at the lowest cost. We currently have 32 solar parks in our renewable energy portfolio and have plans to bring additional projects online in the years ahead. We plan to have 2,500 MW of solar energy online by 2025, enough clean energy to power more than 688,000 homes. By 2040, DTE will generate clean energy from more than 11 million solar panels.
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Natural Gas
As Michiganders know well, the wind doesn't always blow, and the sun doesn't always shine in our beautiful state. So we can’t rely on wind turbines and solar panels to supply our electricity around-the-clock. And that’s why we need 24/7 energy sources, such as natural gas-fueled plants. Compared to coal, natural gas is cleaner, cheaper and easier to transport. It’s also domestically abundant. When our Blue Water Energy Center begins operation in 2022, it will be the most efficient power plant in Michigan – a state-of-the-art, low-emission energy source that will provide electricity to 850,000 homes.
DTE Gas is helping to drive an industry-wide movement toward cleaner natural gas production with a roadmap that includes suppliers and customers, as well as its own operations.
The three-fold approach reducing internal greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 includes new operational improvements, working with suppliers that share the company’s environmental commitment and inviting our customers on the journey through energy efficiency programs and a significantly enhanced voluntary greenhouse gas reduction program that includes renewable natural gas and carbon offsets. As technologies, like hydrogen and carbon capture become market-ready, we also add these to our plan. -
NUCLEAR
Our Fermi 2 nuclear power plant provides emission-free, 24/7 electricity and plays an important part in diversifying our power generation capacity. In 2016, Fermi 2 received its license renewal from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to continue generating electricity until 2045. The NRC approved the license renewal request after more than two years of extensive technical and environmental reviews.
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COAL
Two of our four remaining coal plants that represent about 18% of our power capacity – enough electricity for about 1 million homes – will retire in 2022. We plan to retire Belle River Power Plant as a coal-fired plant by 2028, and Monroe Power Plant by 2040. While our plants have been generating reliable and affordable electricity for Michigan’s homes and businesses for decades, we want to move forward as quickly as possible to achieve our clean energy goals.
STEWARDSHIP Our Home
is Our Habitat
We work to take care of the land, water and living creatures both within our service territories and beyond. As one of the largest landowners in Michigan, we maintain thousands of acres in its natural state and provide habitat for hundreds of species of birds, mammals, fish and insects. We have more than 30 sites certified under the Wildlife Habitat Council, a nonprofit organization that helps companies manage their property for the benefit of wildlife.
Aggressively Reducing Water Withdrawal During Power Production
Of the water used for cooling and other purposes at our power plants, less than 2% was actually consumed (water largely lost through evaporation) and more than 98% was returned. By retiring coal plants and shifting to cleaner and more efficient generation sources, DTE has aggressive targets to reduce water withdrawal by 40% by 2023, 60% by 2030, and 90% by 2040.
Cleaner Air Results and Projections
Since 2005, we have invested more than $2 billion each in emission controls and renewable energy. These investments have cut carbon emissions by 25% and significantly reduced other emissions, including mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter – contributing to Metro Detroit’s best air quality, according to EPA data.
15,000 Ton Sturgeon Sanctuary
Loss of rocky habitat in the Detroit and St. Clair River systems, which has occurred since the 1800s due to industrialization, has contributed to a decline in the lake sturgeon population – a state and provincially threatened species. DTE Energy provided limestone needed for restoration of the reef—about 15,000 tons. We’re proud to support the restoration efforts and to rebuild native fish communities throughout the Great Lakes region.
DID YOU KNOW? Our App Helps You Conserve & Save
The DTE Insight App is a mobile app providing customers with real-time home energy usage data by connecting their home’s smart meter to their smartphone. Our customers can use this data to make decisions about home energy usage — from heating and cooling, to the use of appliances and even home weatherization. The app helps customers save energy and reduce energy costs.
Join the Journey
We all need to do our part to help protect the environment for our families and generations to come. Reducing carbon emissions is a key to combatting climate change. DTE offers several opportunities to you to make a difference at a local or state level, at home or on the move.
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Transform Your HomeFrom windows and insulation to smart home devices, we have the resources you need to increase your energy efficiency. DTE Energy’s residential and business customers will save nearly $400 million on their cumulative lifetime energy bills thanks to their participation in the company’s efficiency programs.
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Drive an Electric VehicleYou can reduce your carbon emissions by 60% when you switch to driving an electric vehicle. DTE Energy is here to help you on the road to owning an electric vehicle with Charging Forward, our EV charger incentive program that provides qualified EV drivers with $500 back.
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Join MIGreenPowerDTE’s popular MIGreenPower program enables customers to attribute up to 100% of their energy use to Michigan-made wind and solar, whether they own or rent their home or office space. Nearly 500 customers are joining MIGreenPower each week, reducing their carbon footprint and bringing more clean energy onto the grid. MIGreenPower subscribers have already enrolled 1.8 million megawatts of clean energy in the program, reducing 1.4 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
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Recycle Your Old AppliancesIt’s the easy way to clean up and save. If you have an old refrigerator or freezer that still works, DTE Energy will recycle it for free and you’ll receive a $50 check. Plus, save more when you recycle other appliances.
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Enroll in CleanVision Natural Gas BalanceNatural Gas Balance is an innovative program that allows DTE gas customers to offset up to 100 % of the average household greenhouse gases created using natural gas. For as little as $ 4.00 a month, you are protecting Michigan forests that naturally scrub greenhouse gasses from the environment as well as supporting the development and use of renewable natural gas created from waste emissions.