Michigan’s DTE, Consumers launch MI Community Solar education campaign
DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, the largest energy providers in Michigan, announced a collaboration last week in the form of MI Community Solar — a new education campaign designed to promote existing and future opportunities for renewable energy programs.
Experts from DTE and Consumers will unite to discuss the investments being made by each company into the statewide community of solar subscribers, how this grows Michigan’s green energy future, and what the solar opportunity looks like. A responsibly regulated and shared energy system will be one of their main pitches. This will include a focus on community solar programs, like DTE’s MIGreenPower in southeast Michigan and Consumers’ three Solar Gardens efforts, which allow Michigan residents to utilize clean energy for cheap.
Such programs are open to all of the companies’ electric customers.
“MI Community Solar is an inclusive, equitable approach to building a community of solar participants, powered by all of us and supporting a greener future for Michigan,” Sarah Nielsen, of Consumers Energy, said. “We’re also building sustainable communities by supporting good union jobs going to local workers – because we must ensure that the transition to a green economy is just and that workers are not left behind.”
Both companies invest in solar access for traditionally underserved communities, promoting social equity even as they work to improve customer preferences in their respective investments. Grid resiliency to face the effects of climate change and new sustainable options have also been critical to the companies’ investment plans.
“MI Community Solar is not just about the great work we’re doing today to build communities of solar users; it’s about more solar projects to come from DTE and other Michigan energy companies,” Brian Calka, director of renewable energy solutions at DTE Energy, said. “Non-regulated local energy projects have the potential to drive higher costs to Michigan consumers. We are also moving at a much faster pace gaining economies of scale that can’t be replicated in the private market.”
