Detroit Edison Seeks Renewable Energy Proposals

DETROIT, Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Detroit Edison has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) that will continue to add Michigan-based renewable power to the company's energy portfolio.

The utility is seeking approximately 245 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy from wind, solar, hydro, biomass or landfill gas facilities that would be operating by the end of 2014. Of that amount, approximately 120 MW would be operating by the end of 2012.

The notice of intent to bid this RFP is due by Jan. 21, 2011. Potential bidders can view the RFP at dteenergy.com/renewsuppliers after today. Potential bidders who believe they are qualified can view detailed bid documents on the PowerAdvocate bid event platform.  Potential bidders must be registered with PowerAdvocate to access the bid documents; the registration site is www.poweradvocate.com.

This RFP is part of Detroit Edison's broader efforts to expand the company's renewable energy resources. To meet the state's renewable energy goals, Detroit Edison expects to add about 1,200 megawatts of renewable power. Detroit Edison plans to provide 10 percent of its power from renewable resources by 2015.  The company plans to own facilities to supply up to half of that power and contract with third-party producers for the rest.    

Detroit Edison expects the majority of its renewable energy to come from wind resources. The company has acquired easements on more than 75,000 acres of land in Michigan's Thumb region for development of utility-scale wind farms.  The company also has two solar energy pilot programs that could produce approximately 20 megawatts of power.

Detroit Edison announced in September that its largest contract to purchase renewable energy was approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission, setting in motion a 20-year agreement with Invenergy Wind that will result in 200 megawatts (MW) of new wind energy in Michigan. The agreement – which represents a $1.1 billion commitment to renewable energy by Detroit Edison – paves the way for Invenergy Wind to install and operate a 30,000-acre wind farm near Breckenridge in Gratiot County, Mich.

The Invenergy contract boosted Detroit Edison's renewable energy capacity to nearly 4 percent of total generation.

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 Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan and other non-utility, energy businesses focused on gas storage and pipelines, unconventional gas production, power and industrial projects, and energy trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com and at twitter.com/dte_energy.

SOURCE Detroit Edison