Skrift
Jul 7, 2022
Ann Arbor Public Schools achieves 100% renewable electricity goal through DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program

by DTE Energy
  • Enrollment furthers Ann Arbor’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030
  • Electricity use at all school buildings will be attributed to Michigan-made wind and solar projects
  • Ann Arbor is the first Michigan school district to enroll in the MIGreenPower program

 

DETROIT, July 7, 2022 — DTE Energy (DTE) today announced that Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) has enrolled in DTE’s MIGreenPower, a program that enables customers to reduce their carbon footprint by attributing more of their electricity use to renewable energy projects in Michigan. With its MIGreenPower enrollment, AAPS joins top districts around the country from San Francisco to Minneapolis in demonstrating environmental leadership by committing to 100% renewable electricity. AAPS is the first school district in Michigan to join MIGreenPower.

“We know many of our customers are looking for renewable energy solutions, and DTE has a suite of programs available to help our customers reduce their impact on the environment,” said Brian Calka, director, Renewable Solutions, DTE Energy. "Through our current renewable energy projects and new projects being added as a result of our MIGreenPower program, Ann Arbor is already 30% of the way to achieving its renewable energy goal for electricity. DTE is committed to helping the City of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County achieve their respective sustainability goals, and we are excited to welcome AAPS into the MIGreenPower program as part of that effort.” 

AAPS is already a leader in renewable energy and has installed more than one megawatt of solar panels on its school buildings that provide six percent of the district’s electricity. With its enrollment in MIGreenPower, AAPS will be able to reach its 100% renewable electricity goal and support the development of additional renewable energy projects in Michigan.

”AAPS recognizes that climate change is a very real concern and this is another bold step to keep our commitment for a safe and healthy environment to the Ann Arbor community now and for generations to come. This is a win-win-win partnership,” said Rebecca Lazarus, President of the Board of Education.

Superintendent Jeanice K. Swift added, “In joining the MIGreenPower program, AAPS is the first Michigan K12 school district to take such a bold action to reduce our carbon footprint by supporting the construction and operation of renewable solar and wind projects right here in Michigan. This step represents a key component of our overall plan and progress to serve as a national model for sustainable K12 school practices in the Ann Arbor Public Schools.” 

DTE’s MIGreenPower is among the largest voluntary renewable energy programs in the country and program participation has doubled for each of the past four years. Today, more than 60,000 residential customers are enrolled as are 600 businesses, including several of southeast Michigan’s largest companies such as Ford Motor Company and General Motors. On an annual basis, MIGreenPower customers have enrolled 1.9 million megawatt hours of clean energy in the program, which has the environmental benefit equivalent to taking nearly 300,000 cars off the road for a year.* 

 

About DTE Energy

DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric company serving 2.2 million customers in Southeast Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE portfolio includes energy businesses focused on power and industrial projects, renewable natural gas, and energy marketing and trading. As an environmental leader, DTE utility operations will reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions by more than 80% by 2040 to produce cleaner energy while keeping it safe, reliable and affordable. DTE Electric and Gas aspire to achieve net zero carbon and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. DTE is committed to serving with its energy through volunteerism, education and employment initiatives, philanthropy and economic progress. Information about DTE is available at dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com.   

  

For further information, members of the media may contact:

Cindy Hecht, DTE Energy, 313.235.5555

 

*Avoided emissions and equivalencies are based on the Environmental Protection Agency equivalencies calculator at epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator.