DTE Energy, Michigan's leading producer of renewable energy, has received conditional approval for its proposed purchase of three new Michigan wind parks, increasing the company's renewable energy portfolio nearly 50 percent and furthering DTE's commitment to providing clean, affordable and reliable power to its customers.
The company will purchase Michigan's largest wind parks, Isabella I and Isabella II, from Apex Clean Energy. The two projects, totaling 383 megawatts and located in mid-Michigan's Isabella County, will be the largest clean energy projects in the state as well as the largest renewable energy projects in DTE's portfolio when they begin commercial operation in 2020.
Apex will start construction on the projects later this year. DTE also will purchase Fairbanks Wind from Heritage Sustainable Energy, a Traverse City, Mich.–based wind developer. The 72-megawatt park will be located in Delta County in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
DTE will assume ownership and operation of all three projects upon completion, slated for the fourth quarter of 2020. The new wind parks will add 455 megawatts of renewable energy to DTE's generation mix, enough to power 107,000 homes.
The company will use at least two of the new wind projects to meet the renewable energy needs of its largest commercial and industrial customers, including Ford, General Motors and the University of Michigan, which have enrolled in MIGreenPower, DTE's voluntary renewable energy program.
"Investing in renewable energy is a key part of our commitment to reduce carbon emissions by at least 80 percent by 2040," said Jerry Norcia, president and CEO of DTE Energy. "Adding these new wind parks to our portfolio will help us meet the clean energy needs of our largest customers who have chosen MIGreenPower. We also have aggressive plans to expand our voluntary renewable energy programs, enabling more customers to reduce their carbon footprint and meet personal or business sustainability goals."
DTE will introduce a suite of voluntary renewable energy programs under the MIGreenPower umbrella designed to meet a wide range of customer interests. These will complement the company's two existing programs, one for residential and small business customers and one for large commercial and industrial customers.
The company has invested more than $2.8 billion in renewable assets since 2009 and will invest an additional $2 billion during the next five years.
