When DTE Energy recently introduced its CleanVision Natural Gas Balance program, City of East Grand Rapids leaders were eager to sign up. It’s committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2040.
“In 2022 the East Grand Rapids City Commission adopted that target date as a goal for all city operations to be carbon neutral by that time.”
Initiatives include a solar array system that when completed produce clean energy to public buildings saving a projected $265,000 over a 25-year agreement. East Grand Rapids Deputy City Manager Doug LaFave tells me DTE Energy’s CleanVision Natural Gas Balance program is an attractive carbon credit program.
“Particularly with the two aspects of their program. The first one is the portion of the portfolio that we’re purchasing renewable natural gas credits from the City of Grand Rapids biodigester from their water resource recovery facility. East Grand Rapids is a utility partner of the City of Grand Rapids so we send sanitary sewer to that facility. So, with that facility online creating RNG gas, they’re selling that to DTE and then City of East Grand Rapids is now buying some of those credits.”
Renewable natural gas is a biproduct of organic waste methane. Methane is considered a potent greenhouse gas. Capturing and transforming it into RNG leveraging the carbon offset used for preserving Michigan forests.
