Apr 11 2008
DTE Energy has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to purchase Michigan-based renewable energy for the company's GreenCurrents renewable energy program.
GreenCurrents provides DTE Energy's 2.2 million electric customers the option of choosing environmentally-friendly renewable energy for their homes and businesses. More than 8,000 customers have signed up for GreenCurrents since its inception last April, making it one of the fastest growing voluntary renewable energy programs in the country.
A key element of GreenCurrents is to encourage the development and operation of new renewable energy projects in Michigan, according to Trevor F. Lauer, vice president of retail marketing for DTE Energy.
"This RFP requires that providers be located in Michigan, and that their renewable energy facilities be newly constructed," Lauer said. "We want the resources for the GreenCurrents program to be homegrown - and we expect to sign long-term agreements with developers who share that vision."
Renewable energy is power created from sources that can be replenished naturally, including wind, solar and biomass energy. DTE Energy signed agreements last year with four Michigan-based firms to provide renewable energy for GreenCurrents. The RFP issued today will provide additional renewable energy supply for GreenCurrents in 2009 and 2010.
Under the GreenCurrents program, DTE Energy's Detroit Edison electric customers can select a renewable energy option that best fits their budget. For as little as $2.50 a month, residential customers can purchase a 100 kilowatt hour block of renewable energy that's equal to 15-20 percent of a typical home's monthly electric usage. Customers can also choose to match 100 percent of their home's electricity consumption with renewable resources for an additional cost of $10 to $15 per month for a typical household.
Business customers can purchase a 1,000 kilowatt hour block of green energy for $20 a month - or match all of their electricity usage with renewable power for an additional cost of two cents per kilowatt hour.
Responses to the RFP are due to DTE Energy by May 2, 2008. A pre-bid conference, including a question and answer session, will be held at DTE Energy's downtown Detroit headquarters complex on April 18 at 1 p.m.