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
- 2030
- 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 14 wind parks and 31 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 2030 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
Since 2009, we’ve driven investments of more than $2.8 billion to build 14 wind parks that generate enough clean energy to power more than 500,000 homes. In 2020, we will bring four additional wind parks online, increasing our renewable energy portfolio by more than 50%. Our long-term plan calls for continued significant investment in renewable energy, including an additional $2 billion over the next five years. By 2030, at least 25% of the energy we provide will come from renewable resources, including wind and solar.
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SOLAR
With the 31 solar parks in our portfolio, we are the largest producer of solar energy in our state. Our Lapeer Solar Park, located on more than 250 acres just 20 miles from Flint, is one of the largest solar parks east of the Mississippi River. Its 200,000 solar panels generate enough clean energy to power 11,000 Michigan homes. We are continuing to invest in universal scale solar parks, which makes solar energy accessible to all of our customers. By 2040, we will have well over 10 million solar panels in our portfolio.
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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 includes working with suppliers that share the company’s environmental commitment and reducing internal greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 through new operational improvements, investments in renewable natural gas and carbon offsets. The plan also includes partnering with customers to reduce their usage emissions, through energy efficiency programs and a significantly enhanced voluntary green gas program, using renewable natural gas and carbon offsets. Lastly, our plan will rely on utilizing advanced technologies aimed at lowering emissions such as hydrogen and carbon capture. -
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
Three coal plants that represent about 20% of our power capacity – enough electricity for about 1.2 million homes – will retire in 2022. We plan to retire the last of our remaining coal plants 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 emissions-reduction 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 36 sites certified under the Wildlife Habitat Council, a nonprofit organization that helps companies manage their property for the benefit of wildlife.
Water Recycled 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. DTE Energy plans to further reduce water use at all our facilities (service centers, office buildings, etc.) by a minimum of 25% by 2022.
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.
Recycling and Reuse
As one of Michigan’s largest employers and landowners, we understand the importance of leading by example. Our waste reduction and recycling programs reduce or eliminate many types of waste and encourage our employees to practice sustainability. Our headquarters in downtown Detroit diverted 240 tons of material from landfills in 2017 alone.
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 reduce carbon emissions and create a cleaner energy future. Below are just some of the things you can do to get involved 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 cumulatively save $626 million on their energy bills over a lifetime thanks to their participation in DTE programs in 2018.
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Drive an Electric VehicleElectric vehicles reduce emissions and our country’s reliance on foreign oil. DTE Energy makes owning an electric vehicle easier by offering special rate plans to help you cut the cost of charging your EV.
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Join MIGreenPowerMIGreenPower is a simple and affordable program that empowers you to attribute more of your personal energy use to DTE Energy’s newest renewable energy projects, our Pinnebog wind park in Huron County, and our solar parks in Lapeer and Detroit.
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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 Natural Gas BalanceNatural Gas Balance is an innovative program that captures methane from landfills and turns it into pipeline quality natural gas. Join a growing number of people and businesses supporting renewable energy development to create a cleaner, more sustainable Michigan.