The Department of Environmental Quality announced today that Detroit Edison's Greenwood Energy Center of Avoca has earned the distinction of becoming Michigan's 159th Clean Corporate Citizen (C3).  The DEQ's C3 Program is a voluntary environmental program that recognizes environmental stewardship at Michigan businesses.

Detroit Edison Greenwood Energy Center, an inland plant designed for oil and natural gas electrical generating units, supplies electrical power to Southeast Michigan.  They are located on a 1,780 acre site in St. Clair County that is comprised of grasslands intermixed with trees and wetland areas.  The Detroit Edison Greenwood Energy Center employs approximately 49 employees at this site, and together they work to maintain the local nature ecology through the creation of a pollinator garden, food and cover plots for wildlife and nature trails, all of which provide access to the site's diverse habitats.  Demonstrating their commitment to the environment has also earned Detroit Edison Greenwood Energy Center a Wildlife Habitat Certification from the Wildlife Habitat Council.

"Greenwood employees - and all DTE Energy employees - are keenly aware that they have a personal responsibility for protecting the environment day in and day out," said Patricia Poppe, Detroit Edison Greenwood Energy Center Plant Director.  "This is a commitment we have made to our families, friends and neighbors and to future generations."

Plant Manager Justin Morren, added, "Earning the Clean Corporate Citizen designation makes me very proud of our employees here at Greenwood.  We are a smaller facility, but we have some very dedicated employees who have been working for years to raise awareness of these issues."

"I am happy to welcome another Detroit Edison facility to our C3 Program" said Director Chester.  "The Greenwood Energy Center follows the environmental leadership of Detroit Edison's five other C3 facilities."

C3 designation is made to candidates that adopt facility-specific Environmental Management Systems,y have active and on-going pollution prevention initiatives at their facility, and have a consistent record of compliance with state and federal environmental requirements.  The C3 Program is open to companies regulated under any of Michigan's environmental statutes, and designations are reviewed and renewed on a regular basis.

Editor's note:  DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq .

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"