The Michigan Public Service Commission approved a long-term energy plan for one of the state’s largest utilities today. The “integrated resource plan” requires DTE Electric to reduce its reliance on coal, speed up renewable energy projects, and disclose large political donations.
DTE Energy vice chairman and group president Trevor Lauer says a key will be replacing that coal energy and figuring out where to put renewable projects.
"It’s a challenge that’s not only here in Michigan but it’s a challenge across the United States as we go through this energy transition. You’re going from these large central station power plants that produced everything to now more dispersed power plants that are much more visible to people." said Lauer.
The plan was a compromise between the utility, state regulators, and environmental groups. Those environmental groups say the settlement takes several steps in a more environmentally friendly direction, but it doesn’t do much to address affordability.