DTE Energy has announced the completion of construction on its Polaris Solar Park, a new 100-megawatt solar facility located in Washington and North Star Townships in Gratiot County, Michigan. The announcement was made during a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the site. Once operational later this summer, the solar park will generate enough clean energy to power over 23,000 homes, contributing to the state’s growing renewable energy capacity.
As Michigan’s largest producer and investor in renewable energy, DTE has been steadily expanding its clean energy infrastructure. Since 2009, the company’s renewable energy projects have helped create an estimated 20,000 jobs across the state. The Polaris Solar Park is expected to bring substantial tax revenue to Gratiot County, including Washington and North Star Townships. These funds can support essential public services such as road maintenance, emergency response, libraries, and other community needs. This comes in addition to the $42 million in tax revenue already generated by DTE’s three existing wind parks in the county.
Matt Paul, president and chief operating officer, DTE Electric, mentioned, “DTE is committed to growing our portfolio of clean, Michigan-made renewable energy as part of our broader generation mix to support the evolving energy needs of our customers. This continues to be the most active period of renewable energy development in DTE’s history, which also enables us to partner with local communities to help drive economic development and improve the lives of residents in towns across Michigan.”
Jim Wheeler, President of Greater Gratiot Development, a non-profit organization that promotes economic activity in Gratiot County, said in a statement, “Polaris Solar is a significant investment in Gratiot County, a project that will benefit police departments, county parks, and local government entities throughout our local communities. Where some counties are looking at cutbacks, we haven’t had to do that. Here, renewable energy helps improve the overall quality of life for the county and the people who live in it.”
Polaris Solar is the third new solar park DTE is bringing online in 2025. It is part of a broader expansion that includes five more solar parks currently under construction. All of these projects are funded through CleanVision MIGreenPower, DTE’s voluntary renewable energy program, which is the largest of its kind in Michigan. Through this program, residential and business customers can support clean energy development by enrolling in solar and wind energy options.
To date, MIGreenPower has enrolled nearly 100,000 residential customers and around 1,200 businesses. These enrollments are playing a key role in advancing DTE’s clean energy goals, including achieving net zero carbon emissions and meeting Michigan’s renewable energy standard of 60% by 2035. By the end of 2025, DTE’s renewable portfolio will be capable of powering more than 800,000 homes in the state. Looking ahead, the company aims to increase that number significantly, with plans to power the equivalent of nearly 6 million homes with clean energy by 2042. The completion of the Polaris Solar Park marks another step forward in DTE’s long-term commitment to sustainability, economic development, and community partnership across Michigan.
