Stellantis and DTE Partner to Add 400 Megawatts of Solar Power to Michigan
As the auto industry makes the shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) and alternative, more sustainable energy sources, there are also automakers and automotive groups working towards carbon neutrality. This means emitting as much or less carbon dioxide than that which is removed naturally via planet absorption, i.e. into trees and plant life, to keep a balance in the atmosphere and our breathable air. One popular way to do this for the average person is to install solar panels around their home to supplement the electrical power needed to power the household, if not replace it completely. Stellantis is one automotive group also working towards this carbon neutrality, recently entering into a partnership with DTE Energy, Stellantis is adding 400 megawatts of new solar projects 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. This agreement is an outstanding example of how truly great companies like DTE Energy and Stellantis can unleash their passion and expertise to shape a more sustainable world for our customers and our communities.” – Mark Stewart, COO, Stellantis North America
These 400 megawatts will be enough clean energy to power approximately 130,000 homes a year. It’s in part thanks to DTE’s MIGreenPower voluntary renewable energy program, and ultimately, this partnership is the second largest renewable energy purchase ever made in the U.S made to avoid more than 670,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and commit to clean energy. By 2038, Stellantis has the goal to achieve carbon net zero on a global scale, a part of its Dare Forward 2030 business strategy as it works towards the production of more EVs and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), as much as 75 around the world. By 2025, Stellantis wants to cut CO2 emissions in half, and by 2026, able to attribute 100-percent of its electricity use to 70 southeast Michigan sites (manufacturing and non-manufacturing) powered by clean, solar energy. This will cut the company’s carbon emissions in North America by 50-percent, a great amount of progress in just a few years.
DTE’s MIGreenPower voluntary renewable energy program has already been very beneficial on its own. Powering more than 800 businesses and more than 75,000 residential customers, many people have already experienced the wonder of clean, solar energy versus electricity. As much as 4 million megawatt hours of clean energy is used a year, with little-to-no impact on the environment, avoiding more than 3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. Committed to transitioning more entities to cleaner sources of renewable energy, DTE filed last month with the Michigan Public Service its CleanVision Integrated Resource Plan, a proposal to invest more money into solar and wind energy. If approved, DTE can add more than 15,000 megawatts of new renewable energy projects to its program over the next two decades.
It all seems like a brighter future for the auto industry and the world. The last couple of generations have placed a greater interest on environmental impact and how we treat the Earth. Projects like this are the result. Follow along with us on Aventura Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram social media to learn more about what Stellantis is working on next.