In an effort to become more environmentally conscious, Plano- based Toyota Motor North America has enrolled in MIGreenPower, DTE's voluntary renewable energy program.
"Renewable energy programs like DTE's MIGreenPower program are crucial to helping companies seeking a reduced carbon footprint to achieve their goals," said Kevin Butt, director of environmental sustainability for Toyota.
Through the program, Toyota will move its research and development headquarters in Ann Arbor along with six other facilities across Washtenaw County in Michigan towards attributing 100% of their electricity use to renewable energy projects starting in 2026.
Toyota’s clean energy commitment covers a 20-year period and will have the environmental benefit equal to avoiding 29,000 metric tons of CO2 or the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 6,200 gasoline-powered passenger cars driven for a year.
"From our research and development facilities in Michigan to our production and corporate facilities across the nation, Toyota aims to achieve carbon neutrality throughout our operations by 2035," said Butt.
MIGreenPower is among the largest voluntary renewable energy programs in the U.S.
The program enables DTE Electric's residential and business customers to attribute a percentage of their electricity use to Michigan-made wind and solar projects, beyond the 15% DTE already provides.
To date, the company has more than 800 businesses enrolled in the program along with more than 85,000 residential customers.
On an annual basis, MIGreenPower customers have enrolled four million megawatt hours of clean energy in the program, which has the environmental benefit equivalent to avoiding more than three million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually or the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 630,000 gasoline-powered passenger cars.
Program participation is accelerating the development of new wind and solar projects in Michigan. By 2026, DTE will add more than 2,000 MW of new clean energy projects to meet program demand.
"We are excited to welcome Toyota to the MIGreenPower program," said Brian Calka, vice president, Renewable Sales and Project Development for DTEEnergy. "Toyota joins a growing list of Michigan-based automotive manufacturers and suppliers who are enrolling in MIGreenPower to meet their sustainability goals. Currently, more than 70% of MIGreenPower business customers are involved in the automotive sector."
DTE is Michigan's largest producer of and investor in renewable energy and is committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
In its CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan filed in November 2022 with the Michigan Public Service Commission, DTE proposed increasing investment in solar and wind energy, accelerating the retirement of coal plants, and investing in the development of new energy storage – all reinforcing DTE's commitment to cleaner energy.
If the new plan is approved, the company will add more than 15,000 megawatts of new renewable energy projects over the next two decades.
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