Michigan environmental news: DTE plans 2 gigawatts in data center deals by year’s end

DTE Energy is negotiating with data center developers whose prospective projects would require roughly 2 gigawatts of power. The utility expects to announce agreements by the end of the year, with an additional 3 to 4 gigawatts of potential demand under discussion for later development.

DTE’s long-range plan calls for two natural gas plants with a combined estimated cost of $6.4 billion. Environmental groups argue the plants may be connected to growing data center demand and could raise costs for ratepayers, while DTE and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce say they are needed to replace retiring coal-generation capacity. Regulators have imposed cost conditions on DTE’s approved data center contracts.