Henry Ford Health System Partners with DTE Energy to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Improve Impact on Environment

DETROIT (December 14, 2021) — Henry Ford Health System today announced a new partnership with DTE Energy that will dramatically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in the next decade, help combat pollution and climate change, and help reverse environmental inequities in Detroit.

Through DTE’s voluntary renewable energy program, MIGreenPower, Henry Ford will begin purchasing wind and solar energy. The goal is that beginning in 2023, 10% (approximately 19,100 megawatt hours) of Henry Ford’s total electricity purchased from DTE will come from Michigan-made renewable energy, increasing incrementally to 100% by 2029.

“Sustainability is an integral part of building strong, healthy communities,” said Bob Riney, Henry Ford Health System’s President of Healthcare Operations and Chief Operations Officer. “At Henry Ford, health equity is at the foundation of everything we do. It’s an unfortunate fact that low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by poor environmental conditions, which are exacerbated by climate change. By investing in clean, renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure, we aim to address health disparities and the growing impacts of climate change regionwide, especially in our historically marginalized communities.”

Henry Ford’s clean energy commitment with DTE will begin as soon as the energy company’s infrastructure comes online, likely in late 2023. The initial purchase will reduce the organization’s greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 13,536 metric tons, the equivalent of removing 2,944 passenger vehicles from the road each year.*

The system has been working with DTE and other partners to implement other energy conservation measures, like lighting replacement and HVAC upgrades, that are yielding significant reductions in greenhouse gas emission. Henry Ford is also working with other utility providers to identify further energy savings opportunities, including renewable energy options.

“We are thrilled to welcome Henry Ford Health System into our MIGreenPower program, one of the largest voluntary renewable programs in the United States,” said Trevor Lauer, president of DTE’s electric company. “Like DTE, Henry Ford has served our community for more than 100 years and we thank them for taking this additional step toward creating a cleaner environment. As the state’s leading producer of renewable energy, we are committed to a clean energy future for Michigan, one that benefits all Michiganders. By investing in clean, renewable energy, we are able to help reduce the impacts of climate change in our community.”

MIGreenPower is a voluntary renewable energy program that enables DTE customers to attribute their energy use to the company’s wind and solar projects. Henry Ford joins a community of other businesses and more than 44,000 residential customers using MIGreenPower to reduce their carbon footprint.

Henry Ford has been an anchor institution in the city of Detroit for more than 105 years. Over those years, the organization has grown significantly, spanning across Southeast and Central Michigan and beyond. With that growth comes a dedication to improving the community’s environment and a growing role in public health.

“We are doing this because we are deeply committed to the health of our communities and dedicated to sustainable solutions that improve health and wellness,” said Chip Amoe, Henry Ford’s Director of System Sustainability. “All of our sustainability initiatives are designed to have a direct impact on improving the health of the employees, patients and communities we serve.”

###

*Avoided emissions and equivalencies are based on eGrid 2019 marginal non-baseload emissions factors by subregion and the Environmental Protection Agency equivalencies calculator at http://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator

About Henry Ford Health System: Founded in 1915 by Henry Ford himself, Henry Ford Health System is a non-profit, academic, and integrated health system comprising five acute-care hospitals, three behavioral health facilities, a health plan, and 250+ care sites including medical centers, walk-in and urgent care clinics, pharmacies, eye care facilities and other health care operations. The health system has more than 33,000 employees and is home to the 1,900-member Henry Ford Medical Group, one of the nation’s oldest physician groups. More than 2,500 physicians are also affiliated with the health system through the Henry Ford Physician Network and Jackson Health Network. Henry Ford Health System is also one of the nation’s major academic medical centers, receiving nearly $100 million in annual research funding, among Michigan’s largest NIH-funded institutions. Also, an active participant in medical education and training, the health system has trained nearly 40% of physicians currently practicing in Michigan and provides education and training for other health professionals including nurses, pharmacists, radiology, and respiratory technicians.