Trees absorb carbon dioxide, keeping it out of the atmosphere, and supply us with oxygen. They also provide shade and wildlife habitat, beautify communities, prevent soil erosion, improve water quality and aid in energy conservation.

Since 1995, DTE Energy has planted more than 20 million trees in Michigan in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), restoring more than 20,000 acres of forestland. Over half the trees planted in northern Michigan were jack pines (Pinus banksiana) providing critical habitat for the endangered Kirtland’s warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii).

Thousands of those trees are in communities served by DTE Energy, through the DTE Energy Foundation Tree Planting Grant program which has been administered by the MDNR since 1998.  DTE Energy communities are eligible to apply for matching grants to plant trees on public property.

Twenty million trees…

• equal more than two trees planted per Michigan resident (2000 census population 9,938,444)
• would create a forest more than 44 square miles (700 trees/acre), the size of the city of Grand Rapids
• absorb 135,000 tons of carbon dioxide every year and produce 98,000 tons of oxygen

DTE Energy is also one of the leading partners in PowerTree Carbon Company LLC, a voluntary consortium of 25 U.S. power companies that is restoring 3,500 acres of bottomland hardwood forest in the Mississippi River Valley. At a global level, DTE Energy supports the Rio Bravo Conservation Area project to protect rainforests in Belize. 

We not only plant new trees, we care for existing trees in a responsible manner. We follow national arborist standards in clearing utility lines. Since 1995 we have continuously earned the Tree Line USA Utility Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation for demonstrating practices that protect and enhance urban and community forests.