Stellantis says it is dedicating to a big boost in its clean energy purchases in Michigan in a deal with DTE Energy, according to Detroit Free Press.
The automaker, which owns the Dodge, Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, and Ram brands, issued a joint news release with DTE committing to putting 400 megawatts of new solar projects in Michigan, which the release stated would be sufficient to power 130,000 homes and enable it to avoid over 670,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
The companies called it the “second-largest renewable energy purchase ever made in the US from a utility,” following a similar announcement by DTE and Ford in August for 650 MW of new solar energy in Michigan.
While this day and this historic agreement are about clean and efficient power, I’d like to suggest that today is also about the power of partnerships in this new era of sustainable mobility. Our success — indeed our survival — will depend more and more on how completely we embrace the values of collaboration and partnership as strategic imperatives that help us achieve breakthrough business outcomes.
Mark Stewart, chief operating officer for Stellantis North America
At the same time, Jerry Norcia, chairman and CEO of DTE Energy, says that investments like this boost their state’s transition to create jobs, clean energy, and strengthen their state’s economy.
Adding 400 MW of new solar for Stellantis would create a cleaner environment for Michigan businesses, communities, and families and open hundreds of jobs during project construction.
Solar power to reduce carbon emissions
On the other hand, Stellantis deal’s financial details, through participation in DTE’s MIGreenPower program, were not released.
The companies stated Stellantis would be able to credit 100% of its electricity usage at 70 facilities in southeast Michigan to solar power by 2026, which would lessen its carbon emissions across its manufacturing facilities by 30% and in North America by 50%.
DTE spokeswoman Cindy Hecht said the new solar projects would be in Michigan, with construction anticipated to start in 2024, but the exact location, awaiting approval of the Michigan Public Service Commission, has not been determined yet.
800 business and 75,000 residential customers enrolled in MIGreenPower
An estimated 800 business and 75,000 residential customers are enrolled in MIGreenPower, said Hecht. She calls it more affordable for consumers because of its scale than if they installed their rooftop solar panels.
The electricity produced is fed into the power grid. However, due to the solar projects not directly connected to the Stellantis sites, “we say the usage is being ‘attributed to solar energy,’ ” says Hecht.
