Ford Motor Company is teaming with DTE Energy to build Michigan’s
largest solar array at Ford World Headquarters.
The project, funded by DTE Energy, will provide employees with 360
covered parking spaces and 30 charging stations for plug-in electric
vehicles such as the company’s Ford Fusion Energi and C-MAX Hybrid
Energi. A kiosk will also be on site offering general information to
visitors about solar power and specific details about the Ford carport.
“Ford has a long history of innovation and a deep commitment to
sustainability,” said Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor
Company. “Our fundamental purpose as a company is to make people’s lives
better. We do that by creating outstanding products, by investing in
communities where our employees live and work, and by using technology
to tackle global sustainability challenges. Those beliefs are embodied
in this project.”
The solar canopy will have capacity to generate 1.038 megawatts of
electricity – enough to power 158 average-sized homes. It will be the
second-largest solar carport in the Midwest, after a 1.1-megawatt
facility at the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio, and it will reduce the amount of
electricity Ford pulls from the grid to run its offices.
The solar array will offset an estimated 794 metric tons of carbon
dioxide emissions annually.
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with DTE Energy to bring a more
efficient, renewable energy source to our offices,” said Donna Inch,
chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Land Development Corporation. “This is an
innovative project that will benefit both DTE Energy and Ford, and is
yet another example of our work toward building a more sustainable
future.”
Under a recently finalized agreement, DTE Energy will construct, operate
and maintain the carport for 20 years. Construction is slated to begin
in September and be completed in early 2015.
The solar installation is part of an initiative DTE Energy launched in
2009 called SolarCurrents. The program works to fulfill DTE Energy’s
commitment to generate 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources
by 2015.
“The SolarCurrents canopy project is another example of how DTE Energy
and Ford are working to build a more energy-efficient and sustainable
future,” said Irene Dimitry, DTE Energy vice president, marketing and
renewables. “At the same time, this project will help us come closer to
meeting Michigan’s renewable energy goals and diversify our energy
portfolio.”
This is the second collaboration between Ford and DTE Energy in recent
years.
In 2010, the companies teamed up to install a 500-kilowatt solar
photovoltaic panel system at Ford’s Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne,
Michigan. Energy generated by the system helps power vehicle production
at the plant, where Ford Focus, Focus Electric, C-MAX Hybrid and C-MAX
Energi are built.
Ford World Headquarters is home to other environmental innovations. In
2012, a “living roof” was installed when a 2,500-square-foot portion of
the rooftop needed repair.
Multiple varieties of sedum were planted to reduce storm water runoff
from the building. The project built on the success Ford saw a decade
ago when it developed its first green roof at Dearborn Truck Plant, home
of F-150 pickup production. Consider the numbers:
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10.4 acres of drought-resistant vegetation (the equivalent of eight
football fields) was planted on top of the truck plant
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The vegetation helps create a natural storm water management system
that costs two-thirds less to operate than a conventional treatment
system
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The roof, covered with 11 plant species that act as insulation, lowers
the amount of heat entering the building by 70 percent, reducing
cooling costs by 5 percent
About Ford Motor Company
Ford
Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six
continents. With about 186,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the
company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company
provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more
information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
About DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE) is a Detroit-based diversified energy company
involved in the development and management of energy-related businesses
and services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric utility
serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan and a natural gas
utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan. The DTE Energy
portfolio also includes non-utility energy businesses focused on power
and industrial projects, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage,
and energy marketing and trading. Information about DTE Energy is
available at dteenergy.com,
twitter.com/dte_energy
and facebook.com/dteenergy.
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