DTE plans for no coal plants, 80% cut in carbon by 2050

[TexasTowelie]

DTE Energy, Michigan's largest electricity supplier, on Tuesday announced plans for a dramatic transformation of its power generation — an 80% reduction in carbon emissions and the shuttering of all of its coal-fired power plants by 2050.

The $15 billion proposal would leave customers of the nation's seventh-largest energy utility receiving 40% of their power from new, natural gas-fired power plants; 40% from renewable energy, made possible by a dramatic increase in primarily wind power; and 20% from nuclear, the company's existing Fermi II nuclear plant.

"Climate change is a big deal — I think it's the defining policy issue of our era; certainly for the energy industry, it is the defining policy issue," said DTE Chairman and CEO Gerry Anderson. "Both I personally and the senior leadership of this company believe we have a responsibility, and believe the country has a responsibility, to address this."

The utility is also motivated by stark reality: seven major, aging, coal-fired power plants that would soon require expensive upgrades.

Read more: http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/05/16/dte-plans-coal-plants-carbon/324991001/

[tonyt53]

1. He left out the main reason for the switch though. DTE will make more profit by dropping coal.

30% - 38% more in fact.