DETROIT, Dec. 18 Detroit-based DTE Energy Co. announced Monday it will start offering renewable energy options to its customers.In its new plan, 2.2 million electric customers will get to choose if they want to use renewable energy for all or a portion of their electricity needs.Currently, renewable energy facilities are more costly to build, operate and maintain than conventional sources of electricity. But we expect costs to decrease over time as customer demand grows and more and more renewable energy facilities are brought online, said Trevor Lauer, vice president of retail marketing for the Michigan-based DTE Energy. Customers will have to pay $2.50 a month for every 100 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy. That amount is about equal to between 15 and 20 percent of monthly average home use. For an extra $10 to $15 per month, customers can have all of their energy needs met with renewable resources.The program, called GreenCurrents, is completely voluntary and the energy choices include solar, wind, hydropower and biomass among others.The project proposal, under development for the last year, is pending approval from the Michigan Public Service Commission. If it's approved, DTE Energy hopes to begin offering the new energy choices by the beginning of 2007.Copyright 2006 by UPI
