DTE retires last unit of River Rouge coal-fired plant.

DTE Energy has retired the last operating unit of its River Rouge coal-fired power plant along the Detroit River, a facility that came online in 1956 and entered commercial operation in 1958. The utility on June 4 said River Rouge, located just southwest of Detroit, Michigan, operated for the final time on May 31.

The retirement of River Rouge is among moves taken as part of DTE Energy’s program to reduce carbon emissions. The Detroit-based utility has increased its investment in solar and wind power, and is placing more of an emphasis on natural gas-fired power generation, along with the continued operation of its Fermi nuclear plant.

The company’s current goal is to cut emissions by 50% by 2030, and 80% by 2040.

DTE plans to close three of its remaining five coal-fired power plants by the end of next year, a number that includes the 358-MW River Rouge. The utility has said the closings represent the single largest carbon emissions reduction happening in the state of Michigan.

“As Michigan’s need for electricity grew over the decades, our employees at River Rouge worked together to serve our customers and communities as an engine of progress,” said Jerry Norcia, president and CEO of DTE Energy, in a statement. “Now that this plant has achieved its generation lifespan and we move into the next evolution of power generation, I would like to thank the men and women who gave their energy to the plant over the years and to the communities that supported them.”

7 June 2021

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