DTE’s Natural Gas Balance program helps businesses offset carbon emissions
This story was published in Energy Smarts Magazine.
DTE’s Natural Gas Balance program gives customers the opportunity to address up to 100% of the carbon emissions created from their natural gas usage. For Baker College, the program aligns perfectly with its vision for a sustainable future.
“Baker College recognizes our responsibility to environmental stewardship, and this is a great program,” says Aaron Maike, vice president for campus administration and engagement. “You’re truly helping make the world a little bit better by reducing your carbon footprint.”
A dual approach
When business customers enroll in Natural Gas Balance, they are able to create a custom program to balance their natural gas carbon footprint. This program can entail purchasing carbon offset credits that fund sound forest management or investing in the development and use of renewable natural gas made by capturing and processing methane emissions from organic waste sources.
In west Michigan, renewable natural gas is being generated at the Grand Rapids Water Resource Recovery Facility. DTE also partners with Sauk Trail Hills Landfill in Canton for this purpose.
“The process involves collecting the raw biogas, removing impurities and upgrading it to meet pipeline quality standards,” explains Brad Radel, principal account manager for DTE.
“This renewable natural gas can then be injected into DTE’s natural gas grid, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.”
Carbon offsets can also be purchased to support sound forest management, which consists of practices that ensure forest health and sustainability, such as selective logging, controlled burns and reforestation.
“These practices help to maintain biodiversity, protect watersheds and sequester carbon, which in turn supports our overall environmental goals,” Radel says. “Many customers feel this is a worthy investment.”
Customizable levels
Natural Gas Balance is available for both business and residential customers. Residential customers can balance 25% to 100% of their natural gas carbon emissions at four different levels. For businesses or major gas customers, DTE can adjust the percentages to match the customer’s budget and goals, making it a truly customizable program.
Baker College, for example, signed a contract to address 100% of its carbon footprint at two of its campuses through carbon offsets in the Pigeon River Country State Forest. The college is annually offsetting equivalent emissions of 655,000 miles driven by a gasoline-powered car.
Radel says it’s gratifying to see organizations like Baker College take advantage of the program.
“I was thrilled when Dr. Maike provided us the opportunity to work with Baker College to put together a Natural Gas Balance program that fit their budget and goals,” he says.
A smart choice
With six campuses across Michigan, Baker College has long prioritized environmental responsibility through strategic planning and infrastructure investments.
“We have a robust sustainability statement and plan,” Maike says. “We have recycling at all of our campuses. We have banned single-use plastic and the use of Styrofoam on our campuses, just to make sure that we’re doing our part to make the world a little bit cleaner for all of us.”
Natural Gas Balance was a natural fit.
“It was super easy,” Maike says. “They evaluate your CO2 emissions, they draft a contract and you just make it happen.”
Long term goals
Baker College’s partnership with DTE extends beyond Natural Gas Balance.
“We have a five-year rolling capital plan,” Maike says. “DTE is visiting all of our campus locations, reviewing what we can do to make our campuses even more efficient, and that’s all free of charge.”
According to Radel, that kind of collaboration is what makes the college a standout partner.
“Baker College has a history of focusing on sustainability through its academic programs, a commitment to operational excellence and strategic planning that includes environmental responsibility,” he says. “Baker College incorporates energy-saving features in its infrastructure and has partnered with our energy efficiency team over the years to find additional energy savings.”
Baker College had already made significant progress, but Radel says the organization wanted to go further.
“While much work has been done by Dr. Maike and his team at their numerous campuses, their operations still had a carbon footprint which they desired to address, and they found DTE’s Natural Gas Balance program was the option that best suited their goals,” he says.
The bigger picture
For DTE, Natural Gas Balance is part of a broader effort to help customers participate in Michigan’s clean-energy future. For organizations like Baker College, it’s an easy way to make measurable progress toward environmental goals while demonstrating leadership in sustainability.
“It’s part and parcel of what we do every day,” Maike says. “This is really important to us.”
As Radel notes, Baker College’s commitment has paid off.
“Through their participation in DTE’s Natural Gas Balance program, they were able to fully balance their carbon footprint,” he says. “We couldn’t be happier with our ability to provide that solution for them.”
If you are a DTE Energy business customer and would like to create your own custom Natural Gas Balance program, reach out to your account manager today.
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