STERLING HEIGHTS, Michigan — The maker of Jeep SUVs and Ram pickup trucks is partnering with DTE Energy Co. to add 400 megawatts of solar energy generation to power dozens of sites in southeast Michigan and the production of all of its vehicles in the state.
The plan is a part of Stellantis NV's commitment to achieve carbon net-zero status globally by 2038. With the addition of the solar power through DTE's MIGreenPower program, Stellantis says it will be able to attribute all electricity use at 70 manufacturing and non-manufacturing sites to solar by 2026.
That doesn't mean the facilities will be powered every minute of the day by solar since the sun doesn't shine 24/7, DTE CEO Jerry Norcia says, but the project will be able to produce the equivalent amount of energy that Stellantis uses in a year. DTE last month shared details of its proposed 20-year plan that would accelerate the end of coal energy production to 2035 and increase its mix of renewable energy into the grid to 60%, up from today's 20%, while seeking to sustain energy reliability. In addition to wind and solar, DTE uses natural gas and zero-emission nuclear sources.
