DETROIT, Sept. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy will reduce methane emissions from its natural gas utility operations by more than 80 percent by 2040 – part of a broad sustainability initiative the company has launched to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change while continuing to provide customers with reliable and affordable power.

"Since 2011 DTE's improvements in our natural gas distribution system have resulted in a 16 percent reduction in methane emissions," said Mark Stiers, president and chief operating officer, DTE Gas. "Our continued commitment to gas main replacement and proactive compressor station maintenance will allow us to reduce methane emissions by more than 80 percent in the next 20 years."

DTE is achieving these reductions by replacing steel and cast iron pipelines at a more accelerated pace than recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency and installing new materials, such as polyethylene tubing for main and service lines and epoxy coated high-strength steel for transmission lines.

DTE transports natural gas, which serves as the energy source for providing heat, powering appliances and much more for 1.3 million residential and business customers throughout Michigan. With DTE moving to retire all of its coal-fired plants by 2040 to cut carbon emissions by 80 percent, the company also is increasing its use of natural gas as a low-emission 24/7 energy source to produce electricity for 2.2 million customers in Southeastern Michigan.

Natural gas is a clean, safe and reliable source of energy. It will play a key role in partnership with DTE's growing capacity of emission-free renewable energy to ensure cleaner, reliable and affordable energy for Michigan residents

DTE plans to double its renewable energy capacity from 1,000 megawatts to 2,000 megawatts by 2022 – 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.

"DTE has demonstrated that methane emissions can be reduced while at the same time allowing natural gas to play an integral role in the company's energy portfolio while transitioning to a reduced carbon emission infrastructure," Stiers said.  "A balanced mix of energy sources, such as wind, solar and natural gas, is an important part of DTE's strategy to deliver safe, secure, reliable, affordable and cleaner power to our customers and all Michigan consumers."

DTE broke ground in August on the natural gas-fueled Blue Water Energy Center in East China Township, Mich. When it becomes operational in 2022, it will be the most efficient power plant in the state producing affordable and reliable low-emission electricity for 850,000 homes starting in 2022.

Methane accounts for about 10 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, according to the EPA. The transmission and storage sector of the natural gas industry has reduced its methane emissions by 44 percent from 1990 to 2016.

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 .

SOURCE DTE Energy

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