General Motors Partners With DTE To Source Wind Energy in Michigan

The company will source 300,000 MWh of locally sourced Michigan wind energy through DTE’s MIGreenPower program.

As part of its commitment to increasing its renewable energy footprint globally and finding clean energy solutions near its operations, General Motors Co. has partnered with DTE Energy for 300,000 MWh of wind energy in the state of Michigan.

Once complete, the energy sourced will be enough to power 100 percent of the electricity needs of GM’s global technical center in Warren and its Detroit-based operations at the Renaissance Center.

The 300,000 MWh are equivalent to the amount of power consumed by nearly 30,000 U.S. households per year. To date, GM has contracted or invested in a total of 1.71 terawatt hours of clean energy power in North America, equivalent to more than 145,000 households and more than any other automaker in the region.

GM will source the wind power through an agreement with DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower, a renewable energy program that enables DTE customers to attribute up to 100 percent of their energy use to DTE clean energy projects in Michigan. In January 2019, DTE received approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission to offer a MIGreenPower program designed for major Michigan corporations and industrial companies who want access to more renewable energy to meet corporate sustainability goals.

“Investing in renewable energy remains an important part of GM’s vision for a zero-emissions future,” said Rob Threlkeld, global manager of Sustainable Energy and Supply Reliability for General Motors. “Our partnership with DTE Energy will help us get closer to achieving our goal of powering all our operations in Michigan with 100 percent clean energy. It helps to demonstrate that local and regional industry partnerships are paramount to GM’s clean energy future, where renewable sources will account for 100 percent of our global energy footprint by 2050.”

The MIGreenPower agreement comes on the heels of GM reaching 20 percent of its global energy supply from renewables. GM is a member of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA) and an early signatory of RE100, a collaborative global initiative uniting influential businesses committed to 100 percent renewable electricity, working to increase demand for and delivery of renewable energy.

“Our 100 percent renewable energy commitment, along with our pursuit of electrified vehicles and responsible manufacturing, is part of GM’s approach to strengthening its business, improving communities and addressing climate change,” said Threlkeld.

Recently, Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn Truck Plant, and several new buildings on the Ford Research and Engineering Campus and Corktown campus, including Michigan Central Station, will soon be powered by 100 percent locally sourced renewable energy. This is in addition to the 500 kW solar PV panel system already in place at the Michigan Assembly.

This collaboration is part of a commitment by Ford to a substantial renewable energy procurement also through DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program, supporting the company’s Southeast Michigan portfolio and providing 500,000 MWh of locally sourced Michigan wind energy.