DTE Energy, one of Michigan’s largest energy providers, recently announced plans to retire all its coal power plants by 2032 and invest $11 billion into its transition to clean energy.

On July 25, 2023, the company announced approval of its CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).

“This approval comes just 14 days after a historic settlement agreement was reached between DTE and nearly two dozen organizations on the Company’s 20-year plan that dramatically transforms how DTE generates electricity as part of its mission to invest in the future of Michigan,” states the energy company’s press release. “Developed over the past two years with the input of DTE’s customers and other key stakeholders from across Michigan, this proposal accelerates DTE’s clean energy transition increasing investments in Michigan-made solar and wind energy, speeding up the retirement of coal plants, and developing new energy storage – all reinforcing DTE’s commitment to cleaner energy generated reliably and affordably.”

Highlights of the company’s IRP include:

• Developing more than 15,000 megawatts (MW) of Michigan-made renewable energy by 2042. This carbon-free generation is the equivalent of powering approximately 4 million homes.
• Accelerating the development of energy storage, targeting 780 MW through 2030, with a goal of more than 1,800 MW of storage by 2042, reinforcing DTE’s commitment to clean and reliable energy and more than doubling current storage capacity.
• Ending DTE’s use of coal in 2032 with a responsible, phased retirement schedule of the Belle River and Monroe coal power plants, dramatically reducing its use of coal from 77% in 2005 to 0% in less than three decades.
• Additionally, DTE has further accelerated the retirement of the Monroe Power Plant, with half of the plant retiring in 2028 and full retirement in 2032.
• Investing more than $11 billion into the clean energy transition over the next 10 years, supporting more than 32,000 jobs in Michigan while reducing the future cost of the plan for customers by a projected $2.5 billion.
• Directing an additional $110 million to support income-qualified home energy efficiency programs, customer affordability programs, and access to clean energy resources for DTE’s most vulnerable customers.
• Repurposing the Belle River coal-fired power plant to run on natural gas at a fraction of the cost of building a new power plant while accelerating reductions in carbon emissions. Natural gas, and other 24/7 resources like the company’s existing Fermi II carbon-free nuclear plant, plays an important role in a diverse energy mix and will significantly reduce emissions while providing reliable and affordable energy to meet periods of high customer demand.
• Providing retraining for employees impacted by the coal plant retirements.
• Targeting a 2% energy savings level from energy efficiency through 2027.
• Supporting increased distributed generation on DTE’s distribution system.

“DTE’s Monroe coal plant is a massive air polluter, impacting public health and our climate in Michigan. Every additional year of its operation exacerbates climate change and harms our communities. By retiring the plant sooner, we can have a greater positive impact on the state’s health and climate,” said Andrew Sarpolis, Michigan field manager for the Sierra Club, one of the organizations negotiating for the settlement, according to Michigan Advance.

The announced plant retirements include one of the largest greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution generators in the nation.

DTE’s announced goal is to reach net-zero carbon pollution by 2050.

These announcements mark continued progress in the energy industry’s shift from fossil fuels as the EPA further advances regulations to slash GHG emissions from the power sector.