Since the 1920s, DTE Energy’s gray, talcum-powder-fine coal ash – the residue left from pulverized coal burned in our power plant boilers – has been used by concrete and asphalt companies as a beneficial additive. More than 1 million tons of ash were produced at our six coal-burning plants in 2006.

Historically, only 10 percent to 20 percent of our total ash has been recycled into useful materials; the rest goes to landfills. Beginning in mid-2009, new facilities will collect and recycle fly ash from our Belle River, St. Clair, and Monroe Power Plants – the three largest producers of fly ash.

These additional sales will bring us closer to the 50 percent to 55 percent ash recycling industry average rate, as a starting point. We plan to increase the recycling volume on a yearly basis to reach a target recycling range of 70 percent or higher.