Located in Isabella County, the Isabella I and Isabella II wind parks have a total of 136 turbines with a capacity of 383 MW. The third park, Fairbanks Wind, is located in the Upper Peninsula’s Delta County and has 21 turbines with a capacity of 72 MW. With the addition of the new wind parks, DTE will generate approximately 1,760 MW from clean energy sources.

The Isabella wind projects were developed and constructed by Apex Clean Energy, and Fairbanks Wind by Heritage Sustainable Energy.

These three new projects are part of DTE’s MIGreenPower voluntary renewable energy program and will source clean energy purchases from some of Michigan’s largest companies, including Ford Motor Company, General Motors and the University of Michigan.

Customers who enroll in MIGreenPower can attribute more of their energy use to DTE’s wind and solar projects, reducing their carbon footprint and supporting renewable energy development in Michigan.

“As the state’s leading producer of renewable energy, DTE is committed to increasing its generation from clean energy sources, including wind and solar,” said Trevor Lauer, president of DTE’s electric company. “Bringing these new wind parks online helps us deliver on our commitment to reduce carbon emissions with the goal of achieving net zero by 2050. Our short- and long-term plans include continued investment in clean energy projects, including some of the largest solar projects in Michigan. Our goal is to get as clean as we can, as fast as we can.”

DTE plans to add six more clean energy projects by the end of 2022, bringing the company’s renewable energy generation capacity to approximately 2,700 MW.

News item from DTE Energy

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Polaris represents a significant step toward the company’s goal of reducing carbon emission by 50% by 2030.

“DTE is leading Michigan’s clean energy transformation,” said Trevor F. Lauer, president and COO, DTE Electric. “Bringing projects like Polaris Wind online provide tremendous benefits for our customers, the environment and the state of Michigan. We are committed to continued growth of our renewable energy portfolio, including wind and solar, as we work to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

Since 2009, DTE has driven investments of $3 billion in renewable energy infrastructure, and the company will invest an additional $2 billion in wind and solar assets over the next five years.

DTE wind projects provide more than clean energy for DTE customers — they also provide a stable source of income for landowners who have turbines on their property; jobs that help young people stay in the community; and tax revenue that can be used to support improvements in roads, schools, emergency services and other vital community needs. Greater Gratiot Development reports that between 2012-2018, the county received nearly $43 million in tax revenue from its wind parks.

“Wind development has unquestionably brought increased economic prosperity to Gratiot County,” said Jim Wheeler, president, Greater Gratiot Development. “In addition to tax revenue that benefits the county, townships and schools, investment from wind development was used to leverage a grant for infrastructure in the Breckenridge Industrial Park, which now houses five companies and over 100 jobs. The area economy also benefits from increased consumer spending at restaurants and retail shops by temporary construction workers and permanent maintenance technicians, in addition to increased spending from local landowners who receive lease payments. Overall, wind development has offered Gratiot County a renewed drive toward the future with new opportunities for its citizens.”

Including Polaris, DTE has over 1,300 MW of renewables online, with a portfolio of 15 wind facilities and 31 solar arrays, all located in Michigan.

News item from DTE Energy

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The Detroit Zoological Society is working on a healthier environment for its animals, visitors, and the planet by practicing sustainability and reducing its environmental impact.

The plan is part of the DZS “Greenprint” strategy to continuously decrease the environmental impact of its operations. DTE will source the renewable energy from three new wind farms, which will come online in late 2020.

MIGreenPower is a voluntary renewable energy program that helps DTE electric customers reduce their carbon footprint and support the development of additional wind and solar energy projects in Michigan. Enrolled customers can customize their participation and attribute up to 100% of their energy use to local wind farms and solar parks.

“Our commitment to sustainability is integrated into everything we do, from our environmentally responsible operations to our community-wide education programs,” said Ron Kagan, DZS executive director and CEO. “Joining MIGreenPower is a major step forward for us, as our power needs significantly exceed what we can produce on-site. This program helps reduce our carbon footprint while also supporting local, Michigan-made renewable energy.”

MIGreenPower offers DTE customers some important advantages over individual clean energy options. It eliminates the hassle of owning and maintaining additional exterior equipment, and it is less expensive than installing a private rooftop solar system. DTE’s MIGreenPower program is on track to be one of the largest voluntary renewable energy programs in the country.

“We are excited to welcome the Detroit Zoological Society to MIGreenPower as we all work together to protect our planet for our children and future generations,” said Jerry Norcia, president and CEO, DTE Energy. “The Zoo joins other well-known Michigan institutions including Ford, General Motors, and the University of Michigan,  and more than 8,300 individual residential and business customers who are using MIGreenPower to make a positive impact on the environment. This program provides an efficient way to power the Zoo with 100% renewable energy.”

DTE first launched MIGreenPower in April 2017 and introduced an expanded version of the program for large corporate and industrial customers in January. It is part of the company’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2040. DTE is developing additional MIGreenPower programs to meet diverse customer needs.

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