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Released December 27, 2016 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by John Egan for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Units of DTE Energy Company (NYSE:DTE) (Detroit, Michigan), like many other electric utilities, are closing coal-fired generation while building new gas-fired and renewable generators. When it comes to renewables, however, the Michigan-based utility holding company got there before many of its peers, and its investment dwarfs that of other electric utilities.
"We've invested about $2 billion over the last seven years building new renewable generation," DTE Energy Communications manager Brian Corbett told Industrial Info in an interview. "We have four solar projects under construction right now," with aggregate generating capacity exceeding 45 megawatts (MW). The company is almost finished building the Pinnebog wind project, a 51-MW project valued at about $64 million. That project is expected to begin operating in 2017.
DTE Energy's electric utility unit, Detroit Edison, recently announced plans to build a 1,000-MW natural gas combined-cycle plant, the Belle River Power Station, in Saint Clair County, Michigan. Valued at between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, construction of this natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC) plant isn't expected to begin until 2020, and it is expected to be operating by 2023, according to Industrial Info's North American Industrial Project Platform.
This new gas and renewable generation will replace the lost output of three coal-fired plants Detroit Edison is shutting down: River Rouge Power Plant, Trenton Channel Power Plant and Saint Clair Power Plant. The three plants have a combined generating capacity of about 2,866 MW. The River Rouge and Saint Clair plants began operating in the 1950s, while the Trenton Channel plant was built during the 1920s.
Closing those three plants will leave Detroit Edison with only two coal-fired power plants in Michigan. The three coal plants to be retired reportedly generate about 25% of Detroit Edison's electricity.
"DTE Energy is committed to providing Michigan and our customers with reliable, cleaner sources of energy," DTE chairman and chief executive Gerry Anderson said in late September when announcing plans to build the billion-dollar NGCC. "These new energy generation investments will significantly reduce greenhouses gases by moving to cleaner technologies. Just as important, it will enable us to deliver safe, affordable and reliable energy for DTE's 2.2 million customers."
Renewable generation now accounts for about 10% of Detroit Edison's generating capacity, enough to meet the needs of over 400,000 Michigan homes, the utility said. Over the last decade, the utility has cut power-plant emissions by 50%, and the gas and renewable projects under construction and development will lower Detroit Edison's emissions footprint even further.
In addition to closing coal-fired plants and building gas and renewable generation, Detroit Edison also has shaved 600 MW of load through customer programs.
The Motley Fool investment site recently quoted CEO Anderson as saying, "I don't know anybody in the country who would build another coal plant, ... regardless of what Trump may or may not do with the Clean Power Plan."
"Detroit Edison is cleaning and greening its power supply, like many electric utilities across the U.S.," commented Britt Burt, Industrial Info's vice president of research for the Global Power Industry. "The three coal plants scheduled for retirement are not expected to stop operating for several years, which gives the company an opportunity to change its mind depending on what environmental regulations the incoming Trump administration plans to revise or scrap."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.
"We've invested about $2 billion over the last seven years building new renewable generation," DTE Energy Communications manager Brian Corbett told Industrial Info in an interview. "We have four solar projects under construction right now," with aggregate generating capacity exceeding 45 megawatts (MW). The company is almost finished building the Pinnebog wind project, a 51-MW project valued at about $64 million. That project is expected to begin operating in 2017.
DTE Energy's electric utility unit, Detroit Edison, recently announced plans to build a 1,000-MW natural gas combined-cycle plant, the Belle River Power Station, in Saint Clair County, Michigan. Valued at between $1 billion and $1.5 billion, construction of this natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC) plant isn't expected to begin until 2020, and it is expected to be operating by 2023, according to Industrial Info's North American Industrial Project Platform.
This new gas and renewable generation will replace the lost output of three coal-fired plants Detroit Edison is shutting down: River Rouge Power Plant, Trenton Channel Power Plant and Saint Clair Power Plant. The three plants have a combined generating capacity of about 2,866 MW. The River Rouge and Saint Clair plants began operating in the 1950s, while the Trenton Channel plant was built during the 1920s.
Closing those three plants will leave Detroit Edison with only two coal-fired power plants in Michigan. The three coal plants to be retired reportedly generate about 25% of Detroit Edison's electricity.
"DTE Energy is committed to providing Michigan and our customers with reliable, cleaner sources of energy," DTE chairman and chief executive Gerry Anderson said in late September when announcing plans to build the billion-dollar NGCC. "These new energy generation investments will significantly reduce greenhouses gases by moving to cleaner technologies. Just as important, it will enable us to deliver safe, affordable and reliable energy for DTE's 2.2 million customers."
Renewable generation now accounts for about 10% of Detroit Edison's generating capacity, enough to meet the needs of over 400,000 Michigan homes, the utility said. Over the last decade, the utility has cut power-plant emissions by 50%, and the gas and renewable projects under construction and development will lower Detroit Edison's emissions footprint even further.
In addition to closing coal-fired plants and building gas and renewable generation, Detroit Edison also has shaved 600 MW of load through customer programs.
The Motley Fool investment site recently quoted CEO Anderson as saying, "I don't know anybody in the country who would build another coal plant, ... regardless of what Trump may or may not do with the Clean Power Plan."
"Detroit Edison is cleaning and greening its power supply, like many electric utilities across the U.S.," commented Britt Burt, Industrial Info's vice president of research for the Global Power Industry. "The three coal plants scheduled for retirement are not expected to stop operating for several years, which gives the company an opportunity to change its mind depending on what environmental regulations the incoming Trump administration plans to revise or scrap."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, five offices in North America and 10 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.
