Toyota enrolls in DTE Energy’s voluntary renewable energy program
Seeking to achieve fully renewable energy throughout its Michigan operations by 2026 and carbon neutrality throughout North America by 2035, Toyota Motor North America announced its enrollment this week in MIGreenPower, DTE Energy’s voluntary renewable energy program.
MIGreenPower, one of the largest voluntary renewable energy programs in the U.S., lets DTE Electric’s residential and business customers attribute percentages of their electricity use to Michigan-made wind and solar projects. While DTE naturally provides 15 percent of its power this way, MIGreenPower lets subscribers push beyond that percentage. Toyota joined more than 800 other businesses currently enrolled in the program.
According to DTE, the program has helped customers avoid the equivalent of more than 3 million tons of CO2 emissions annually.
“We are excited to welcome Toyota to the MIGreenPower program,” Brian Calka, vice president of renewable sales and project development for DTE Energy, said. “Toyota joins a growing list of Michigan-based automotive manufacturers and suppliers who are enrolling in MIGreenPower to meet their sustainability goals. Currently, more than 70 percent of MIGreenPower business customers are involved in the automotive sector.”
For Toyota’s participation, all its research and development operations in Michigan will begin attributing all of their electricity use to renewable energy projects in 2026. This will remain the case for at least the 20-year span of the agreement, and includes both TMNA’s research and development headquarters in Ann Arbor, Michigan, along with six other facilities throughout Washtenaw County. These efforts should be equal to avoiding around 29,000 metric tons of CO2, DTE noted.
“Renewable energy programs like DTE’s MIGreenPower program are crucial to helping companies seeking a reduced carbon footprint to achieve their goals,” said Kevin Butt, director of environmental sustainability for Toyota Motor North America. “From our R&D facilities in Michigan to our production and corporate facilities across the nation, Toyota aims to achieve carbon neutrality throughout our operations by 2035.”
