DTE Energy signs Michigan supplier deals totaling $35 million in the first quarter, surpassing target estimates

DETROIT, May 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy awarded contracts totaling $35 million in new business to Michigan companies, as part of its Pure Michigan Business Connect Initiative commitment.

The Pure Michigan Business Connect Initiative, announced last summer by Gov. Rick Snyder, is a multi-billion dollar public-private program designed to prepare and develop Michigan suppliers to provide services to companies in the state.

Over the last three months, DTE Energy's supply chain management team has closed deals with three companies to provide engineering services for a variety of projects.

• Holland Engineering – Holland, Michigan
• Meridian Land Group – Haslett, Michigan
• ICF Resources – Jackson, Michigan

Terms of the individual contracts weren't disclosed. For the first quarter of 2012, DTE Energy spent a total of $179 million in contracts, compared with the $132 million from the same quarter last year. The spending target for the first three months of 2012 was $144 million.

DTE Energy has pledged to invest $750 million over five years to do business with Michigan based suppliers, as part of the Pure Michigan Business Connect Initiative. Last year, DTE Energy spent more than $597 million with Michigan companies, including $98 million with companies headquartered in Detroit.

"At DTE Energy, we aspire to be an engine for growth in the communities we serve, and to help strengthen a broad array of local businesses, including numerous minority-owned businesses," said DTE Energy Chairman, president and CEO Gerry Anderson.

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 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, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.

SOURCE DTE Energy