Feb 27, 2012

BAD AXE, Mich. - DTE Energy will host two open houses for residents in Huron and Sanilac counties to learn more about the wind farms to be constructed there this year.

DTE Energy announced in 2011 that it will build its first three wind farms in the two counties as part of its efforts to expand the company's renewable energy resources.

The Minden, Sigel and McKinley wind farms - which together will generate approximately 110 megawatts (MW) of electricity - will be sited on nearly 15,000 acres in Bloomfield, Sigel and McKinley townships in Huron County, and Minden and Delaware townships in Sanilac County.

The open houses will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at the Franklin Inn, 1070 E. Huron Ave. in Bad Axe.

Representatives from DTE Energy; General Electric, the wind turbine manufacturer; and Barton-Malow, the general contractor, for the projects, will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about wind energy and its capabilities.

The three wind farms, with a total of 69 wind turbines, represent an investment of about $250 million.

The wind farms are part of DTE Energy's plan to meet Michigan's renewable energy goals. DTE Energy expects to add about 1,000 MW of renewable power to meet its goal of 10 percent renewable energy by 2015. The company plans to own facilities to supply up to half of that energy and contract with third-party producers for the remainder.

DTE Energy expects the majority of its renewable energy to come from wind resources. However, it also has a solar energy pilot program that could produce approximately 20 MW. The utility's renewable energy capacity under contract is about 6 percent of total generation.

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 Detroit Edison, an electric utility serving 2.1 million customers in Southeastern Michigan, MichCon, a natural gas utility serving 1.2 million customers in Michigan and other non-utility, energy businesses focused on gas storage and pipelines, unconventional gas production, power and industrial projects, and energy trading. Information about DTE Energy is available at dteenergy.com, twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com/dteenergy.

For further information, members of the media may contact:

Scott Simons, (313) 235-8808, simonss@dteenergy.com

Len Singer, (313) 235-8809, singerl@dteenergy.com