DTE Energy breaks ground on 100 MW solar park to power Ford’s Michigan plants

DTE Energy has begun construction of a new solar park to provide Ford Motor Company with 100% renewable electricity for its manufacturing sites in Michigan.

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DTE Energy has commenced work on the Cold Creek Solar Park, a 100-megawatt facility located near Coldwater, in the state of Michigan. This project marks the first in a series of solar parks intended to meet Ford Motor Company’s energy demand, with the goal of fully powering its local industrial sites with renewable energy by 2026. Ford has signed an agreement to purchase 650 megawatts of energy from DTE Energy’s CleanVision MIGreenPower programme, setting a national record for the largest renewable energy purchase ever made from a public utility in the United States.

A strategic partnership for energy supply

CleanVision MIGreenPower is a voluntary programme from DTE Energy that allows industrial and residential clients to link their consumption to locally generated solar and wind energy. Ford is one of the primary participants, aiming to offset up to 600,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually through this commitment. The automotive company has stated its goal to reach carbon neutrality across all vehicles, industrial processes, and supply chains by 2050, and to use only carbon-free electricity in its global manufacturing operations by 2035.

Deployment and investment in solar infrastructure

DTE Energy plans to bring three new solar parks online in the first half of 2025, with another three beginning construction later in the year. Together, the six projects will represent a total capacity of 800 megawatts, enough to power more than 220,000 homes. Since 2009, the company has invested USD4.6bn in renewable energy and plans to invest an additional USD4bn over the coming years. All of these installations are located within the state of Michigan, thereby enhancing local energy production.

Meeting the growing industrial demand

According to Matt Paul, President and Chief Operating Officer of DTE Electric, increasing demand from industrial, commercial, and residential clients is driving the continuous expansion of renewable capacities. To date, DTE’s portfolio includes 20 operational wind parks and 34 solar parks. The development of the Cold Creek Solar Park represents a significant step in DTE’s strategy to support Michigan’s decarbonisation objectives and to meet the specific energy needs of major industrial players such as Ford Motor Company.

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