Elimination of Coal
DTE’s overall mix of assets—especially the reliance on coal-fired capacity—has already begun to change and will continue to evolve. Over the next decade, DTE is committed to retiring older, less efficient coal plants and building new, cleaner
natural gas power plants. In fact, DTE will shut down three coal-fired power plants in Michigan within the next seven years, reducing carbon emissions and coal ash waste that is sent to landfills by as much as 30 percent.
Addition of Renewables
DTE is the largest investor in
renewable energy in the state of Michigan. By 2015, DTE will have installed nearly 1,000 megawatts of renewable electric generating capacity, which will account for 10 percent of its customers’ electricity needs. This is enough energy to power 400,000 homes—equivalent to a city three times the size of Ann Arbor. DTE is also building the largest utility-owned
solar project east of the Mississippi River.
Nuclear Power Generation
Another step in improving DTE’s approach to electricity is its attention to nuclear power.
Nuclear power generation provides a significant amount of essentially carbon-free, base-load electricity, which is crucial for helping the state of Michigan and the entire United States meet the challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
DTE owns and operates the
Fermi 2 Nuclear Plant, which accounts for 30 percent of Michigan’s total nuclear generation capacity and about 17 percent of DTE’s total power capacity. The plant can generate enough electricity for a city of 1 million people. Fermi 2 provides this power for about half the cost of the most efficient coal-burning plants while generating zero carbon emissions.
Becoming a Next-Generation Energy Company
DTE is taking dramatic steps to modernize the way it generates
electricity. The transition in its generation mix over the next 15 years is expected to cost up to $8 billion—a massive transformation that DTE is preparing for, while being mindful of its customers’ need for affordable and
reliable energy.
