DTE’s net zero plan brings customers and suppliers in to join the effort
DTE Energy’s new Gas Net Zero Plan pledges to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with a pioneering collaboration that includes customers and suppliers.
The utility says that, within the next 30 years, it will reduce greenhouse gases by 6 million metric tons annually—the equivalent of removing 1.3 million cars from the road each year. The new plan comes on the heels of the utility’s announcement last fall of a goal of net zero carbon emissions on its electric side by 2050.
“As we were examining our progress toward reducing emissions, we asked ourselves whether we could go further and expand our efforts to take a more holistic and impactful approach,” Matt Paul, president and chief operating officer of DTE Gas, told American Gas. “It was at this point we determined DTE Gas sits in a unique position that enables us to help drive reductions in both upstream gas production emissions and downstream customer-use emissions. We pushed ourselves with this commitment and feel that though challenging and ambitious, it is achievable.”
Taking a comprehensive approach to addressing natural gas emissions, including those of suppliers and midstream partners, is a critical part of the plan, he said. DTE will require its suppliers to operate at net zero emissions by 2050.
Customer participation in a continuing array of energy efficiency programs and an enhanced voluntary emissions offset program are also key to reaching the goal.
“We will be developing a comprehensive customer outreach campaign to educate our customers on the new program and demonstrate the impact they can personally have on their own carbon footprint,” Paul said. Company research shows customers are interested in enrolling in this kind of voluntary program, he added.
In addition to involving suppliers and customers, DTE Gas operations will introduce carbon-negative actions such as renewable fuels and offsets to lower emissions associated with natural gas usage.
“A common example of the carbon-negative actions we plan to take would be associated with biosequestration efforts, specifically the managing of forests,” Paul said. “Trees absorb carbon emissions and in turn release oxygen into the atmosphere, thus improving air quality. By working to extend the density of forests and growth rates of trees, we can help to capture more carbon emissions from the atmosphere than otherwise would have occurred.”
Such efforts will compensate for emissions made elsewhere but will ultimately lead to a reduction in the amount of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere, thus having a profound effect on fighting climate change, he said.