PINE RIVER TWP. (WWJ) - People driving in mid-Michigan will see more of those giant windmills.
DTE Energy said Friday that its Pine River wind park in Gratiot and Isabella counties is up and running. The project, which contains 65 turbines, is the largest operating wind park in Michigan.
The turbines will generate enough energy to power more than 54,000 homes, according to the company.
"Bringing Pine River online is helping us meet the commitment we've made to our customers while contributing to the health of Michigan's economy. It is our next step in continuing the fundamental transformation of the way we generate power in Michigan, while maintaining our focus on reliability and affordability," Gerry Anderson, chairman and CEO of DTE Energy, said in a statement.
DTE says it plans to invest an additional $2 billion in renewable energy over the next five years, more than doubling its capacity in wind and solar. The goal is to generate enough energy from renewable resources to power more than 800,000 homes by 2022.
DTE's renewable energy portfolio includes 14 wind parks and 31 solar arrays, all located in Michigan.