DETROIT- DTE Energy has developed a
plan that will give its 2.2 million electric customers the option of
choosing renewable energy for all or part of their electricity needs.
The proposal, which was filed today with the Michigan Public Service
Commission, has been under development for more than a year. It is intended
to encourage new renewable energy projects in Michigan, improve the
environment in the state and help create a diverse energy portfolio to meet
the growing demand for electricity.
“This voluntary program — called GreenCurrents — will give our
customers the ability to choose power created from wind, sun, water,
biomass and other environmentally-friendly sources,” said Trevor Lauer,
vice president of retail marketing for DTE Energy. “For just a few dollars
a month, customers can help influence the future of sustainable energy in
Michigan.”
Under the plan, Detroit Edison customers can “green up” their
electricity usage at a price that best fits their budget. For $2.50 a
month, customers can purchase 100 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy, which
represents about 15 – 20 percent of a typical home’s monthly electric
usage. Customers could also choose to have 100 percent of their home’s
electricity provided by renewable resources for an additional cost of two
cents per kilowatt-hour — or about $10 to $15 per month for a typical
household.
“Currently, renewable energy facilities are more costly to build,
operate and maintain than conventional sources of electricity,” Lauer said.
“But we expect costs to decrease over time as customer demand grows, and
more and more renewable energy facilities are brought on line.”
A key element of the proposal is to encourage the operation and
development of renewable energy generation projects in Michigan. To
accomplish that, DTE Energy plans to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for
new, Michigan-based renewable projects. The company then expects to enter
into long-term agreements with developers who will provide the renewable
energy supply for the GreenCurrents program.
“By supporting the development of new renewable energy projects in
Michigan, our customers can help us meet the electricity demands of today
without sacrificing the needs of future generations,” Lauer said. “We are
very excited to unveil our new renewable energy program, and we look
forward to helping create a cleaner, healthier environment for tomorrow.”
DTE Energy hopes to begin offering the GreenCurrents program to
customers early next year, pending approval by the Michigan Public Service
Commission.
“DTE Energy and Detroit Edison have a long history of environmental
initiatives and support for renewable and alternative energy programs,”
Lauer said. “Detroit Edison is an industry leader in reforestation
projects, and in wildlife habitat restoration and preservation. Other DTE
Energy companies are actively producing alternative energy through biomass
projects and fuel cell technology.
“The GreenCurrents renewable energy program is a logical next step for
DTE Energy and our customers, and a sound plan for the future.”
Additional information on the proposed program is available atMy.DTEEnergy.Com/GreenCurrents
