With a once in a lifetime event like the NFL Draft, it’s all hands on deck to make sure Detroit shines on the national stage. DTE stepped up to the challenge by engaging teams across tour company to power the draft, from offering fun events for visitors coming downtown to making this year’s draft the first carbon neutral one in history. See how we played our part:
- Powering the Draft: Distribution Operations explored every manhole and to inspect all infrastructure to ensure it was in top notch condition, making repairs as necessary to prevent any avoidable issues. The team also did field construction work to illuminate the new DETROIT sign on 1-94. This team set up a system to ensure we are equipped and ready to respond to any onsite issue, along with providing more than 30 individuals to work the event supporting generator deployment and the refueling of metal detectors.
- Net-zero NFL: We partnered with the NFL and Visit Detroit to offset the Draft’s carbon emissions from event production and operation, food and beverage preparation, merchandise sales and the air and ground transportation for NFL employees and vendors by protecting forests that sequester carbon in northern Michigan.
“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,” said Tony Tomczak, vice president, Electric Sales and Marketing. - Positive local impact: To further our NFL Draft sustainability measures, we are enrolling 40 local, income-qualified households in our MIGreenPower Community Support program for two years. Through their participation, these customers will attribute 100% of their electricity use to renewable energy and receive a bill credit of $15-30 each month (depending on household usage).
- Fun at Beacon Park: Watch the NFL Draft unfold on two 20-foot-tall video walls and enjoy live entertainment, food trucks and cornhole tournaments as you cheer on your favorite teams at Draft Day in the D at Beacon Park. The events are open to the public and run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday and noon to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information on the activations, visit DTEBeaconPark.com.
- Growing Detroit’s Tree Canopy: Our company joined the NFL and other members of the Detroit Tree Equity Partnership to plant 20 trees in Patton Park on Earth Day – Monday, April 22. Our Chairman and CEO Jerry Norcia spoke at the event and highlighted the importance of tree equity in Detroit’s future. The trees will add to the 13,000 the partnership has already planted to help bring the benefits of trees to everyone in Detroit.
We are proud to have played a part in this historic event and look forward to all the excitement the NFL Draft will bring to the city of Detroit!