DTE Energy helps make NFL Draft carbon neutral

DTE’s CleanVision MIGreenPower and Natural Gas Balance programs will offset emissions related to the production and operation of the NFL Draft in Detroit

Detroit, April 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE), Michigan’s largest producer of renewable energy, is working with the National Football League (NFL) and local tourism non-profit Visit Detroit to help the 2024 NFL Draft become carbon neutral. By leveraging DTE’s voluntary renewable energy programs, the NFL will create a more sustainable environment for the hundreds of thousands of visitors coming to Detroit, with positive impact for the local community. 

DTE is helping reduce carbon emissions associated with the NFL Draft (April 25 – 27) by offsetting the carbon footprint of the energy used by the NFL for event production and operation, food and beverage preparation and consumption, merchandise sales, and the air and ground transportation for NFL employees and vendors. DTE is securing offsets to protect forests in northern Michigan that are sequestering carbon and may have otherwise been cut down. These are the same types of carbon offsets that DTE uses to reduce the carbon footprints for many of its customers enrolled in the company’s voluntary Natural Gas Balance program.  Overall, this will equate to taking 310 cars off the road for a year (146,500 gallons of gasoline) or the annual electricity use of nearly 260 homes. 

“DTE is excited to leverage the benefits of our voluntary renewable energy programs to create a cleaner environment for the NFL Draft and Visit Detroit,” said Tony Tomczak, vice president – Electric Sales and Marketing, DTE Energy. “We’re thrilled that everyone involved shares DTE’s vision for a cleaner energy future. Reducing the carbon footprint of the event is in perfect alignment with our own plans to help keep Michigan a great place for our future generations to call home.” 

The NFL Draft sustainability efforts will also include funding the enrollment of 40 local, income-qualified households in MIGreenPower, DTE’s voluntary renewable energy program that supports the development of wind and solar parks in Michigan. These customers will be enrolled in the program’s Community Support pilot for two years, which will attribute 100% of their electricity use to renewable energy. 

"Detroit and the state of Michigan are sustainability innovation leaders, from building the first electric vehicle charging road to ensuring that events like the NFL Draft promote environmental stewardship for our community," said Claude Molinari, president and CEO, Visit Detroit. "Visit Detroit is grateful to the NFL, DTE, and other community partners for their work to make this year's Draft a model for sustainable events."