GHG Emissions, Solar, Sourcing Renewables, Wind  -  December 23, 2021

Henry Ford Health System to Reduce GHG Emissions

Henry Ford Health System announced a plan to reduce its GHG gas emissions in the next decade by using renewable energy to help combat pollution and climate change.

Henry Ford will begin purchasing wind and solar energy through DTE’s renewable energy program, MIGreenPower. Starting in 2023, 10% or 19,100 MW hours of Henry Ford’s total electricity purchased from DTE will come from renewable energy in Michigan, increasing incrementally to 100% by 2029.

“Sustainability is an integral part of building strong, healthy communities,” said Bob Riney, Henry Ford Health System’s president of healthcare operations and chief operations officer, in a statement. “At Henry Ford, health equity is at the foundation of everything we do. It’s an unfortunate fact that low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately impacted by poor environmental conditions, which are exacerbated by climate change. By investing in clean, renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure, we aim to address health disparities and the growing impacts of climate change regionwide, especially in our historically marginalized communities.”

The initial purchase will reduce the organization’s GHG emissions by roughly 13,536 metric tons, the equivalent of removing 2,944 passenger vehicles from the road each year.

The Health System has been working with DTE and other partners to implement other energy conservation measures, like lighting replacement and HVAC upgrades, that are yielding significant reductions in GHG emissions. Henry Ford is also working with other utility providers to identify further energy savings opportunities, including renewable energy options.

MIGreenPower is a voluntary renewable energy program that enables DTE customers to attribute their energy use to the company’s wind and solar projects. 

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