Ford Michigan plant to use sustainable energy after inking deal with DTE

MANILA: Ford Motor Company will soon be able to credit 100% of its electricity supply in Michigan to sustainable energy thanks to a new clean energy deal with DTE Energy. This will be a significant step toward Ford's objective of becoming carbon neutral. In accordance with the new deal recently disclosed, DTE will increase Ford's solar energy capacity in Michigan by 650 megawatts by 2025.

The purchase is the largest renewable energy purchase ever made in the United States by a utility and represents a strategic investment in Michigan through DTE's MIGreenPower initiative. The arrays, ultimately constructed, will roughly double the amount of solar energy already deployed in Michigan, according to statistics gathered by the Solar Energy Industries Association.

“This unprecedented agreement is all about a greener and brighter future for Ford and for Michigan,” Ford Motor Company President and CEO Jim Farley said. “Today is an example of what it looks like to lead… to turn talk into action.”

DTE's efforts in renewable energy have produced more than 4,000 new jobs in Michigan since 2009. According to DTE, the installation of the solar arrays would result in the creation of 250 temporary jobs and 10 permanent positions.

The additional tax money these projects provide benefits the local communities where DTE's renewable energy installations are located. Roads, schools, libraries, and first responders are just a few of the community support services that can be supported with these funds.

“We want to congratulate Ford Motor Company for its environmental leadership and commitment to clean energy,” Chairman and CEO of DTE Energy Jerry Norcia expressed. “Ford was the first large industrial customer to enroll in our MIGreenPower program in 2019 and we thank Ford for its continued commitment to using MIGreenPower to help decarbonize its operations and meet its sustainability goals.”

Through DTE's MIGreenPower program, one of the biggest volunteer renewable energy programs in the nation, Ford is purchasing carbon-free electricity. More than 62,000 home users and more than 600 companies have signed up for the program as of this writing with the company.

Customers of MIGreenPower have signed up for 2.8 million megawatt hours of clean energy annually, saving the environment the equivalent of 2.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The business expects to build thousands of megawatts of new clean energy projects to support the program. DTE is Michigan's largest generator of renewable energy.

Ford is the largest manufacturer in the US, employs the most hourly workers here, and was one of the first US automakers to join forces with other nations to reduce the effects of global warming as part of the Paris Agreement.

Photos from Ford

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