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Protecting the environment

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We are committed to minimizing our impact on the environment, developing cleaner ways to produce energy, helping our customers use energy more efficiently, and partnering to enhance the environment for plants, animals and people.

Environmental Goals

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Carbon-dioxide emissions reductions

Reduce DTE Energy power plant carbon-dioxide emissions 6 percent by year-end 2010 from a baseline of 1998-2000.

Progress: We met this goal. Through the end of 2010, we had achieved a total carbon-dioxide reduction of 6.3 percent from the 1998-2000 baseline. more

In 2007, DTE Energy joined the Chicago Climate Exchange, the world’s first – and North America’s only – voluntary, legally-binding greenhouse gas emissions reduction, registry and trading program. By joining, we committed to reducing our power plant carbon-dioxide emissions 6 percent by 2010 from a baseline of 1998-2000.

Greenhouse gas emissions intensity reduction

Reduce Detroit Edison greenhouse gas emissions intensity 3 to 5 percent by 2012 from a 2000-2002 baseline.

Progress: “Greenhouse gas emissions intensity” means the amount of carbon dioxide released per megawatt hour of electricity produced. Detroit Edison’s 2000-2002 greenhouse gas emissions intensity baseline is 0.79 metric tons of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour. A 3-percent reduction would equate to 0.76 metric tons per megawatt hour. In 2010, emissions intensity was 0.80 metric tons carbon dioxide per megawatt hour as a result of decreased generation from our Fermi 2 nuclear power plant, due in part to a planned refueling outage. Increased utilization of Fermi 2, more renewable generation, and reduced utilization of our fossil plants due to EPA regulations in 2011 and 2012 should work towards meeting this goal. Progress toward the goal will be measured in the years 2010 through 2012. more

Power Partners is a voluntary partnership between the electric power industry and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop and implement voluntary climate actions while sustaining economic growth. Through Power Partners, electric power companies are taking on activities such as additional natural gas and clean coal technology generation; additional nuclear generation; and additional renewable energy, energy efficiency, tree-planting, methane recovery and other projects to offset carbon-dioxide emissions. Detroit Edison has committed to the voluntary goal of Power Partners and the DOE to reduce greenhouse emissions intensity 3 to 5 percent over the 2010-2012 period from a 2000-2002 baseline. While the goal of Power Partners and the DOE applies collectively to the entire power industry sector and not individual companies, Detroit Edison has adopted this goal in support of the industry.

Wildlife Habitat Council certifications for additional MichCon sites

Certify two additional MichCon sites under the Wildlife Habitat Council program in 2011 for a total of 30 DTE Energy certified sites.

Progress: In 2010, Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) certifications for our Cadillac Service Center and Big Rapids Operations were completed. We are on track to complete two additional WHC certifications in 2011 at MichCon’s Gaylord office and Wealthy Station. more

The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) is a non-profit, non-lobbying organization created in 1988 with the mission of helping corporations manage their property to the benefit of wildlife. DTE Energy has attained WHC’s Corporate Wildlife Habitat Certification/International Accreditation Program for 28 of our facilities. Our plan is to certify two additional MichCon sites in 2011.

Coal-combustion byproducts recycling

Recycle 15 percent of the total amount of Detroit Edison’s coal-combustion byproducts in 2010 and 50 percent by 2015.

Progress: We exceeded our coal-combustion residual recycling goal for 2010 despite continued weak economic activity. For 2010 we recycled more than 18 percent of our coal-combustion byproducts, surpassing our goal of 15 percent. The 18 percent is more than double the previous year's recycling rate of 8.6 percent. Our 2011 goal is 20 percent. We are being challenged by regulatory requirements that may impact our recycling rate. more

Our Detroit Edison power plants generate fly ash, bottom ash and gypsum. We are engaged in recycling these coal-combustion byproducts for mainly the cement and wallboard markets. Fly ash, when combined with cement in concrete, improves concrete’s durability, strength, constructability and economic factors. Synthetic gypsum from our Monroe Power Plant is used in wallboard manufacturing. Our focus is to recycle all our coal-combustion byproducts. We are taking steps toward meeting this goal by working with marketers and wallboard manufacturers.

Renewable energy development

Increase DTE Energy's energy generation from renewable resources to 10 percent by 2015.

Progress: We are on track to meet the goals set by Michigan's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and are planning to do so through constructing new renewable projects we will own and by purchasing renewable energy generation, primarily wind, from third-parties to add 1,200 megawatts over the next 20 years. As of September 2011, we have increased our renewable energy portfolio to more than 5 percent of our total generation. more

Detroit Edison is powering Michigan's energy future by using today's technology to provide reliable, affordable, responsible energy while developing tomorrow's clean energy solutions. Multiple parallel activities are underway to secure 10 percent of Detroit Edison's sales or 1,200 megawatts (MW) from renewable resources by 2015.

Ongoing since 2007, our company has acquired land rights to nearly 80,000 acres of land in Huron County in Michigan's Thumb region for the development of large-scale wind projects. Since plan approval by the Michigan Public Service Commission in 2009, our company has successfully launched two solar energy pilot programs – "SolarCurrents" – that are projected to produce about 20 MW of electricity.

Three long-term contracts have been approved to purchase 3.2 million Michigan-based Renewable Energy Credits (RECs). These RECs qualify for compliance toward the 10 percent RPS target. Additionally, four purchase power agreement (PPA) contracts have been approved totaling 232 MW. These PPA contracts qualify both toward the 10 percent RPS target and the capacity requirements established by Michigan's RPS.

How are we doing?