Jan 26 2008
DTE Energy has signed an agreement with Cadillac-based Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, Inc. to provide wind energy supply for the company's GreenCurrents renewable energy program.
Introduced last April, GreenCurrents provides DTE Energy's 2.2 million electric customers the option of choosing environmentally-friendly renewable energy for their homes and businesses.
"We are extremely pleased to be working with another Michigan-based company that is helping develop homegrown sustainable energy in the state," said Trevor F. Lauer, vice president of marketing for DTE Energy. "This partnership is an ideal match for our GreenCurrents program, and our goal of inspiring new renewable energy sources right here in Michigan."
Under a one-year agreement (with option for two additional years), Wolverine will provide DTE Energy with renewable energy credits from the Harvest Wind Farm located in Michigan's Thumb area. In addition to its contract with DTE Energy, Wolverine also will provide renewable energy from the Harvest Wind Farm to its member-companies.
The Harvest Wind Farm, developed by John Deere Wind Energy, is Michigan's first multi-megawatt wind farm. The project consists of 32 wind turbines capable of producing enough electricity to power more than 15,000 homes. Wolverine has a long-term agreement with John Deere to purchase renewable energy from the wind farm.
"Wolverine strongly supports the development of clean, sustainable energy in Michigan," said Eric D. Baker, president and CEO of Wolverine. "Programs like DTE Energy's GreenCurrents will enable more renewable energy projects like the Harvest Wind Farm to be developed. We are pleased that we can partner with DTE Energy in this initiative."
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.
"Every customer who signs up for GreenCurrents will play a significant role in shaping the future of sustainable energy in Michigan," Lauer said. "By increasing the development of renewable energy projects, our customers can help us meet the electricity demands of today without sacrificing the needs of future generations."
Since GreenCurrents was introduced in April, 2007, DTE Energy has signed long-term agreements with the following Michigan-based firms to provide renewable power supply for the program:
- Heritage Sustainable Energy, which is constructing a 6,500-acre wind farm in Richland Township near Cadillac.
- North American Biofuels-Green Meadow Farms in Elsie near Lansing, which is building an "anaerobic digestor" that turns cow manure into usable electricity.
- White Lake Landfill Generating Station, located in Whitehall near Muskegon, which will produce energy from the decomposition of municipal solid waste.