Michigan utility seeks 775 MW of wind and – maybe – solar power

DTE Energy has issued a request for proposals for 775 MW of renewable energy to be built in state, and turned on sometime between the beginning of 2021 and the end of 2023.

September 18, 2019 John Fitzgerald Weaver

Juhl Energy - Wind+Solar Hybrid

DTE Energy doesn’t get much love from pv magazine USA. It has a lot to do with things such as, DTE finally killing net metering just a few months ago, or having a long term plan that would would add only 11 MW of solar by 2025. And it’s not just us, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) modeled that 2 GW of solar “in the near-term years” would save Michigan customers about $1 billion through 2040 compared to the 11 MW plan.

Michigan electric utility, DTE Energy, has issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking 775 MWac of wind and solar power. The utility seeks both power purchase agreements (PPA) and build transfer agreements (BTA). The project bids are due November 6, 2019, with commercial operation date being no sooner than January 1, 2021 and no later than December 31, 2023. Projects must be located in the state of Michigan, and connect to transmission system power lines owned by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO).

The 775 MWac of total capacity (below image) includes 375 MW of Renewable Energy Plan (RGP) wind, 150 MW of “80% carbon reduction wind”, and 250 MW of Voluntary Green Pricing (VGP) wind or solar. Eligible solar projects can range from 25 MW to 200 MW, and wind projects from 100 MW to 200 MW.

DTE is offering four sites that it owns “in fee”. The sites are located in the lower peninsula of Michigan in the southeast region. Developers that are interested in submitting a BTA utilizing these land assets, and to push to qualify for 2019’s 30% ITC, should request access to the additional site information from DTE.

PPA projects must submit a levelized price that include sales of the energy, renewable energy certificate (REC), capacity, Renewable Energy Benefits (REB), ancillary services, and all associated attributes. Specifically, all current or future REBs. The RFP defines “Renewable Energy Benefits” as emissions reductions, credits, offsets, allowances or benefits.

DTE Energy current has 1.2 GW of wind and solar capacity in 14 and 31 facilities, respectively.

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