Detroit Edison seeks information on wind energy projects

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - Detroit Edison issued a Request for Information (RFI) to identify potential partners interested in jointly developing wind energy projects with the company.

The RFI is intended to gauge the interest of potential and existing wind energy developers to enter into joint agreements with Detroit Edison to build Michigan-based wind energy farms capable of producing at least 75 megawatts of power by 2011.

The energy produced from such developments would help Detroit Edison achieve Michigan's new Renewable Portfolio Standard for the state's electric utilities to provide 10 percent of their retail electric sales from renewable resources by 2015.

"This RFI provides a glimpse of the incredible growth opportunities that will result from comprehensive energy legislation that was enacted in Michigan late last year," said Trevor F. Lauer, vice president of retail marketing for DTE Energy. "We are very excited about the role renewable energy will play in Michigan's future - and we look forward to hearing from companies that share our enthusiasm."

To meet the state's renewable portfolio standard, Detroit Edison expects to add about 1,200 megawatts of renewable power. The company plans to contract with third-party producers for at least half of that capacity, and plans to own renewable energy projects to meet the remainder.

DTE Energy expects the majority of its renewable energy to come from wind resources. The company has acquired easements on more than 60,000 acres of land in Huron County in Michigan's Thumb region for development of large-scale wind farms.

Detailed information on the RFI is available at www.poweradvocate.com. Potential responders must register on the PowerAdvocate Web site to access the documents.

Questions regarding the RFI are due by noon on June 2, 2009, and must be posted to the Web site. Responses to the RFI are due by noon on June 5, 2009.