Archived News Release: June 9, 2021 - On June 9, 2021, the Michigan Public Service Commission formally ruled on DTE's Voluntary Green Pricing program (VGP), which the City of Ann Arbor legally intervened in to press for more equitable, accessible, affordable, and diverse renewable energy offerings provided through the VGP program.
The ruling will enable the City of Ann Arbor to advance a number of A2ZERO clean energy priorities, including community solar, carbon reduction offerings, and reduced costs for residents in DTE's service territory to participate in the MIGreenPower program.
In 2020, the City of Ann Arbor became an intervenor in Michigan Public Service Commission Cases U-20713 and U-20851. Both cases are related to DTE's Voluntary Green Pricing (VGP) program and their renewable energy five-year build plans. The city found the pricing in the VGP program to be too high, DTE's projections of future renewable energy builds to be too low, and the offerings through the VGP program to be too limited and missing strategic programmatic opportunities that customers are interested in procuring.
“I'm thrilled with the MPSC ruling and the settlement arrangement reached with DTE, particularly around community solar and carbon reduction offerings, which could not have been achieved outside of this settlement," said Dr. Missy Stults, head of the Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations. “These programs have the potential to assist the city in advancing our A2ZERO goals around a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality."
The MPSC's ruling covers multiple topics but the areas where the city intervened and where settlement was reached include:
Approved changes to the MIGreenPower program which will lower the program's costs and simplify enrollment options.
Agreement to proceed with final feasibility studies to develop a 24MW solar project at the city's capped landfill and open that project up as a community solar pilot, with the City of Ann Arbor serving as the anchor tenant. If deemed technically and fiscally feasible, the city and DTE agree to completing this project by 2023.
A commitment to working with the city to explore pathways for developing 440 MW of new solar capacity over the next several years to ensure that future electrical growth is powered with renewables to the extent possible.
A commitment to work collaboratively with the goal of creating new products that reduce carbon (including a virtual power reduction offering) for inclusion in the 2022 Voluntary Green Power Program filing.
Excited about A2ZERO and interested in taking action? You can sign the A2ZERO Pledge and commit to one or more actions that will help make the carbon neutrality goal a reality. You can also take action by becoming an A2ZERO Ambassador - those who are interested can fill out an online application.
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