EAST CHINA TOWNSHIP, Mich.,
Aug. 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/
-- DTE Energy today took a significant step toward its
goal of reducing carbon emissions by more than 80 percent by
breaking ground on a state-of-the-art, $1
billion natural gas-fueled plant. The Blue Water Energy
Center will be the most efficient power plant in the state when it
begins producing affordable and reliable low-emission electricity
for 850,000 homes starting in 2022.
"Just over a year ago, DTE first announced a broad
sustainability initiative to reduce carbon emissions by more than
80 percent and do it in a way that maintains affordability and
reliability for our customers," said Gerry
Anderson, chairman and CEO, DTE Energy. "In fact,
we're already doing it. Since 2009 we have driven investments of
more than $2.5 billion in renewable
energy with more investments coming. But as we continue
to retire coal-fired power plants – all of them by 2040 – we
need to complement wind farms and solar arrays with high
reliability assets. As we Michiganders know well, the wind
doesn't always blow, and the sun doesn't always shine in our
beautiful state. And that's why we need natural gas-fueled
plants like the Blue Water Energy Center. When it begins operations
in 2022, it will represent our single largest step in reducing
carbon emissions to date."
The plant will be built by Kiewit Engineering (MI) Co., a Kiewit
company. The company will spend a minimum of $200 million on Michigan-based labor and materials, and has
begun the pre-qualification process for local sub-contractors.
Additionally, GE Power, a world leader in power generation and
water technologies for utilities, independent power producers and
industrial applications, has been chosen to provide the major
generation equipment. More than 500 Michigan skilled labor jobs
will be created during construction beginning in spring 2019 and an
additional 35 full-time positions will be filled when the plant
becomes operational in 2022.
"The new, cleaner natural gas power plant will create hundreds
of jobs and provide additional revenue that we can put toward
improving our roads, schools and other essential services," said
St. Clair County Commissioner
Jeff Bohm. "This $1 billion investment is a significant boost to
our community and helps assure continued job growth while ensuring
we can meet our state's energy needs."
Blue Water Energy Center, unanimously approved by the Michigan
Public Service Commission (MPSC) earlier this year, is expected be
the most fuel-efficient power plant in Michigan. It will run on natural gas and use
combined-cycle technology that captures waste heat to produce
additional electricity. The plant will be 70 percent cleaner and 40
percent more efficient than the three coal-fired plants DTE plans
to retire by 2023. It is a critical component of a balanced energy
mix that provides 24/7, always available power generation required
when wind turbines and solar arrays are unable to produce
electricity due to weather conditions or time of day.
Already a significant producer of renewable energy, DTE has
announced plans to double its renewable energy capacity by 2022 to
2,000 megawatts – providing enough additional electricity to power
800,000 homes, while driving investments of more than $1.7 billion in Michigan. Within the next year, DTE will begin
operating the Pine River and Polaris wind parks, which will have a
combined capacity of 330 megawatts and be DTE's largest and most
efficient wind parks to date.
"The Blue Water Energy Center not only represents our commitment
to a cleaner energy future, but our commitment to the St. Clair community. DTE has been part of this
community for 65 years and we intend to continue to be a force for
growth and prosperity here for a long time to come," Anderson
said.
About DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a
Detroit-based diversified energy
company involved in the development and management of
energy-related businesses and services nationwide. Its operating
units include an electric utility serving 2.2 million customers in
Southeastern Michigan and a
natural gas utility serving 1.3 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy portfolio includes
non-utility energy businesses focused on power and industrial
projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and energy
marketing and trading. As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE
Energy is a force for growth and prosperity in the 450 Michigan
communities it serves in a variety of ways, including philanthropy,
volunteerism and economic progress. Information about DTE Energy is
available at dteenergy.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and
facebook.com/dteenergy.
About Kiewit
Kiewit is one of North America's largest and most respected
construction and engineering organizations. With its roots dating
back to 1884, the employee-owned organization operates through a
network of subsidiaries in the United
States, Canada, and
Mexico. Kiewit offers construction
and engineering services in a variety of markets including
transportation; oil, gas and chemical; power; building;
water/wastewater; and mining. Kiewit had 2017 revenues of
$8.7 billion and employs 22,000 staff
and craft employees.
About GE Power
GE Power is a world leader in
power generation with deep domain expertise to help customers
deliver electricity from a wide spectrum of fuel sources. We are
transforming the electricity industry with the digital power plant,
the world's largest and most efficient gas turbine, full balance of
plant, upgrade and service solutions as well as our data-leveraging
software. Our innovative technologies and digital offerings help
make power more affordable, reliable, accessible and
sustainable.
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SOURCE DTE Energy