Michigan’s tree coverage is an essential part of the state’s ecosystem. Trees enhance air quality, provide crucial habitats for wildlife and support the health of the Great Lakes.
To preserve Michigan’s natural beauty and resources, DTE Energy and the DTE Energy Foundation recently partnered with organizations to expand the state’s tree coverage.
DTE Foundation in partnership with ReLeaf Michigan:
The DTE Foundation has supported ReLeaf Michigan since 1996, helping plant hundreds of trees annually through a partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. In 2024, the collaboration resulted in:
- 1,040 trees planted
- 2,125 seedlings planted
- 30 communities through Michigan supported
Through this partnership, trees were planted across the state, from Kentwood and Muskegon in West Michigan, to the Grand Traverse Conservation District in Northern Michigan, and Southwest Detroit in Southeast Michigan.
Detroit Tree Partnership:
DTE is a founding member of the Detroit Tree Partnership (DTP), a collaborative effort between the City of Detroit, the Greening of Detroit and DTE that is committed to planting 75,000 trees in underserved neighborhoods to grow tree canopy. These trees improve health outcomes, lower ground temperatures, reduce stormwater runoff and countless other perks, helping every Detroiter reap the benefits that comes with living with trees.
So far, the partnership has planted more than 28,000 trees through crews and community plantings around the city. This spring, the city and the Greening of Detroit have dozens of crew plantings scheduled with more than 4,000 trees slated to be put in the ground by summer.
Last fall, DTP celebrated planting its 25,000th tree, a milestone on the road to 75,000.
“It’s amazing how far this city’s come,” said Mayor Mike Duggan at an event marking this accomplishment in 2024. “We’ve gone from cutting down 7,000 dead trees to planting 25,000 live trees, on our way to 75,000 live trees. This is what blight to beauty means.”
This partnership exemplifies DTE’s mission to improve lives with energy and the company’s history of caring for the environment and the communities where employees live and serve.
“These 25,000 trees are improving lives by capturing carbon, bettering our climate and cooling temperatures in the heat of the summer,” said Jerry Norcia, DTE chairman and CEO, last fall. “The trees we’ve planted today in this park will help cool the children who play here in the future with lots of shade.”
While the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second-best time is now and, through efforts across the state that work with the communities we serve, we are working to grow a better future for all.