DTE Energy recently filed a certificate of necessity with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to build a natural gas-fired power plant in East China Township, Michigan. If approved, the plant would provide power for approximately 850,000 homes.
The nearly $1 billion project is scheduled to break ground in 2019, with construction to create about 500 jobs. The new plant is expected to begin operation in 2022, offsetting some of the capacity retired when three of the company's coal-fired power plants – River Rouge, St. Clair and Trenton Channel – are removed from service.
The new plant is part of DTE's strategy to decrease carbon emissions by 30 percent by the early 2020s and more than 80 percent by 2050. Long term, the company plans to produce more than three-quarters of its power from renewable energy and highly efficient natural gas-fired power plants. DTE also intends to continue reducing its energy waste by 1.5 percent annually.
"Natural gas-fired plants will be a critical part of our power generation capacity in the decades ahead," said Trevor F. Lauer, DTE Electric president and COO. "Natural gas significantly reduces carbon, sulfur-dioxide and nitrous-oxide emissions; offers an affordable and abundant domestic supply; is easy to transport; and provides a reliable, 24/7 power source for our 2.2 million customers."
For more information, visit www.dteenergy.com.
