DETROIT, June 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Students in
Ann Arbor and Roseville public school districts will soon
ride some of the first zero-emission electric school buses in
Michigan, funded by $1.5 million in grants secured by DTE
Energy.
DTE announced today that its partnership with Ann Arbor and Roseville schools was selected by the
State of Michigan to receive
funding for six Thomas Built "Jouley" Buses powered by Proterra, as
well as equipment to charge them.
The Ann Arbor Public Schools
will receive four buses and Roseville Community Schools will receive two
buses. DTE will work with both districts to ensure the associated
electric infrastructure is constructed to support the project. DTE
also will partner with the schools to implement a vehicle-to-grid
study, which will allow the utility to better understand the
effects of battery storage technology.
"We're excited to help bring clean electric transportation to
thousands of Michigan students,"
said Trevor F. Lauer, president and
chief operating officer, DTE Electric. "This partnership and grant
fits well with our commitment to advancing both STEM education and
Michigan's clean energy
future."
DTE has also joined with the Michigan Association of School
Transportation to develop educational programs around the new
buses. Students will see real-world applications of new
innovations, such as the zero-emission electric technologies the
buses employ, as part of their focus in Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math (STEM).
"This is of significant importance because it is aimed at
removing harmful emissions that expose school-aged children who
utilize bus transportation," said Debra
Swartz, pollution prevention program analyst for the
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. "We
feel this young population is particularly vulnerable in that
respect."
"This is a progressive step forward for our schools and aligns
nicely with our existing sustainability goals in the Ann Arbor community," said Marios Demetrious, assistant superintendent, Ann
Arbor Public Schools. "We are thrilled to lead Michigan in the deployment of the latest
transit technology for schools."
"We look forward to deploying these electric buses in our
district," said John Kment,
superintendent, Roseville Community Schools. "Not only will
they help us reduce our carbon footprint, but they will also serve
as great educational opportunities for our students. Our
educators will use them to lead discussions on how we can all take
steps to integrate cleaner energy into our daily lives."
Further information on DTE's commitment to building a clean
energy future is available at journeyto80.com.
About DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is
a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the
development and management of energy-related businesses and
services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric
company serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern
Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million
customers in Michigan. The DTE portfolio includes energy
businesses focused on power and industrial projects, renewable
natural gas, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and
energy marketing and trading. As an environmental leader, DTE will
reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions by more than 80 percent
by 2040 to produce cleaner energy while keeping it safe,
reliable and affordable. DTE is committed to being a force for
good in the communities where it serves through volunteerism,
education and employment initiatives, philanthropy and
economic progress. Information about DTE is available at
dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com,
twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com.
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SOURCE DTE Energy