US utility DTE Energy has announced that construction has been completed at the 80MW Pine River Solar Park during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site.
Located in mid-Michigan’s Pine River Township, the development has more than 180,000 solar panels and will generate enough clean energy to power nearly 20,000 homes.
Pine River Solar is the second of DTE’s three new solar parks to be connected to the electric grid in 2025, and the company has five additional parks under construction.
These projects are reflective of DTE’s customers’ demand for clean energy and are funded through the company’s voluntary CleanVision MIGreenPower, which is Michigan’s largest community solar programme.
This customer interest is also helping to fuel DTE’s progress toward its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions and reaching Michigan’s new renewable energy standard of 60% by 2035.
Matt Paul, president and chief operating officer, DTE Electric, said: “The completion of Pine River Solar will be another milestone in what has been DTE’s most active period of renewable development in its history.
“This is further evidence that DTE is the state’s leading investor and operator of renewable energy, and it also demonstrates DTE’s commitment to supporting economic development and thriving communities through local tax revenues that are improving the daily lives of our host communities’ residents.”
Since 2009, DTE’s investments in renewable energy have created an estimated 20,000 jobs in Michigan.
Additionally, the new park will bring Gratiot County and Pine River Township significant added tax revenue over the life of the project, which can be used for roads, schools, first responders and other vital community services.
DTE’s MIGreenPower programme has enrolled nearly 100,000 residential and 1,600 business customers, with plans to add more than 2400MW of new wind and solar to support those enrollments over the next 10 years.