DTE Energy announces plan to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent

Detroit-based DTE Energy announced last week its plan to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2040.

The company submitted its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) to the Michigan Public Service Commission, outlining the steps it will take over time to transform to a cleaner generation mix. The plan calls for adding more renewables, increasing energy efficiency for its customers above state requirements, and retiring coal plants sooner than previously announced.

DTE said it will reduce carbon emissions at least 50 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2040.

“In Michigan, we are in the midst of a fundamental energy transformation. Two years ago, we were one of the first energy companies in the country to commit to reducing carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050. Our plan has evolved, and we now are accelerating that goal by a decade,” Gerry Anderson, DTE Energy chairman and CEO said. “Achieving these goals will require significant investments in the years ahead – and we are convinced we can make those investments while ensuring that electricity remains highly reliable and affordable for Michigan homes and businesses.”

Specifically, the plan calls for the closure of the St. Clair Power Plant and the Trenton Channel Power Plant in 2022, one year ahead of schedule. Further, the River Rouge Power Plant also will be retired in 2022. 

It also calls for investing $2 billion in renewables by 2024 as part of an effort to double its renewable energy production over the next five years.

DTE also plans to expand its voluntary renewable program, which allows large business and industrial customers to meet their own sustainability goals. Also, it will allow residential and small business customers to choose to source a percentage of their energy from Michigan wind and solar projects.

The plan also calls for helping customers save 1.75 percent more energy.

Finally, it calls for an $800 million upgrade at the Ludington pumped storage facility, co-owned by DTE and Consumers Energy.

“As we developed this plan, we reached out into the community and listened to our customers’ inputs and feedback,” Anderson said. “Our customers care about climate change and want to make sure we are doing everything we can to transition to cleaner energy. All of our customers want us to ensure high reliability as we transition – and we know we need to keep energy affordable for Michigan’s homes and businesses as we evolve as well.”