Rep. Miller: DTE Providing Secure Energy and Needed Jobs in Michigan

Harrison Township, MI – This week, U.S. Representative Candice S. Miller (MI-10) participated in DTE Energy’s dedication of their wind park project and toured their new solar installation in Michigan’s Thumb: McKinley, Sigel, and Minden

“The Thumb area of Michigan has some of the best wind in the country.  DTE is investing nearly a half billion dollars in their wind farms and solar panels, and ITC is investing another half billion in the Thumb Loop Transmission grid to move the energy created in the Thumb.  Both companies are committed to using local labor, significantly enhancing the economy of the Thumb area, while putting the Thumb area on the leading edge of the country for producing alternative energy,” said Miller.

For example, the nearly $250 million dollar investment DTE Energy has made in these three sites have contributed to over 160 skilled construction workers salaries and will employ an additional 10 to 12 full time workers to operate and maintain the facility moving forward.  Furthermore, the new wind parks will contribute to the area’s economic developments through property taxes, which will be used for schools, fire and police protection, and other improvements. 

Background: By 2015, DTE Energy will provide nearly 1,000 megawatts of renewable generated electricity; enough to power 400,000 homes, or 10% of their customer base.  They will meet this goal by investing nearly $1.5 billion in company-owned wind and solar energy projects, plus an additional $1.5 billion in Michigan-based, third-party owned renewable facilities that will sell DTE Energy their output.

Wind:  DTE Energy’s plan call for wind energy to provide nearly 90% of their renewable energy portfolio.  The dedication which took place on October 10th honors the work done to complete McKinley, Sigel, and Minden wind parks, which will be operational by the end of the year.

Solar: DTE Energy’s company-owned Solar Currents pilot program calls for generating 15 megawatts of photovoltaic electricity throughout Southeast Michigan by 2015.

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