Climate Lobbying Overview: DTE Energy (DTE) appears to be engaging with mixed positions on climate policies in the U.S., with activity concentrated on federal and state-level legislation, including in Michigan and California. The company holds leadership positions in several industry associations, including the American Gas Association (AGA) and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI). DTE seems to support the long-term role of fossil gas, a position shared by both the AGA and EEI.

Top-Line Messaging on Climate Policy: DTE demonstrates positive top-line messaging on climate policy. In March 2021, CEO Jerry Norcia supported a net-zero economy by 2050 in testimony before the Michigan House Energy Committee, and Executive Chairman Gerry Anderson co-wrote an article in Forbes advocating for federal action to achieve IPCC-recommended emissions reductions. In a January 2021 open letter with Ceres, DTE advocated for President Biden and Congress to enact “durable” climate policies. In that same letter, the company supported the US re-entry into the Paris Agreement.

Engagement with Climate-Related Policy: DTE appears to engage on climate-related policies with mixed positions, with recent activities centered around federal climate proposals and Michigan renewable energy legislation. The company has been supportive of certain climate provisions in the Build Back Better Act: in a February 2022 C2ES joint letter, DTE advocated for the clean energy tax credits in the bill. That same month, Executive Chairman Anderson joined other utility executives in a roundtable with President Biden and other federal policymakers to discuss the tax credits in the bill, though the contents of that meeting are unknown. Previously, in an April 2021 interview with the Michigan Daily, Executive Chairman Anderson stated a preference for a clean energy standard over a carbon tax. In recent California state lobbying reports, DTE discloses engagement on the Low Carbon Fuel Standard without stating a position.

DTE appears to engage with negative positions on solar energy legislation in Michigan. According to the Energy News Network in April 2021, the company is funding the advocacy group Alliance for Michigan Power to mobilize opposition to rooftop solar incentives. DTE has also directly advocated to Michigan policymakers to limit incentives for distributed solar, including February 2021 testimony against House Bill 4236 regarding the cap on rooftop solar, October 2021 testimony against community solar legislation, and June 2019 testimony against House Bill 4477 on microgrid expansion.

Positioning on Energy Transition: DTE engages on the energy transition with mostly mixed positions and appears to be opposing the phase-out of fossil fuels. On an April 2021 earnings call, CEO Jerry Norcia suggested that President Biden’s goal to decarbonize the power grid by 2035 was too ambitious and that he hoped there would be a “compromise over time.” Previously, on an October 2019 earnings call, Norcia stated that fossil gas “will play an increasingly important role in meeting energy demand” over the years. Norcia also testified before the Michigan House Energy Committee in March 2021 to support the expansion of “renewable natural gas” without setting clear conditions on the need for CCS or methane abatement measures. In November 2020, DTE attended the Energy Solutions Center workshop on electrification messaging to protect the role of fossil gas, which suggests that the company is opposed to gas bans. Additionally, DTE stated in its Q2 2021 federal lobbying report that it was lobbying for “research and development to improve natural gas technologies and natural gas vehicles.” In September 2021, DTE directly advocated to the California Air Resources Board to support an increased role for CCS; however, the company did not mention IPCC risks and uncertainties on the technology in its comments.

DTE has been actively engaging on the federal infrastructure and reconciliation bills with mixed positions. In September 2021, the Daily Energy Insider reported on Executive Chairman Anderson’s support for the clean energy technology and electric vehicle provisions in the bipartisan infrastructure bill. That same month, E&E News reported in an article that DTE declined to comment on the proposed Clean Electricity Performance Program in the reconciliation bill, however was present at an October 2021 private meeting with Senator Manchin during negotiations on the program. In November 2021, Detroit News reported on DTE's support for the reconciliation bill's electric vehicle tax credits, while Bloomberg News wrote that the company was supporting a proposed tax credit for coal plants in the bill, which would also delay the required timelines for carbon capture systems.

Industry Association Governance: DTE has disclosed its industry association memberships on its corporate website, but has not provided any details on each organization’s climate change policy positions. CEO Norcia serves as the Second Vice Chair for the American Gas Association (AGA) 2022 Board of Directors, and Executive Chairman Anderson serves as the Chairman of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI). In addition, a DTE senior executive sits on the board of directors for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). The company is also a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. Chamber, AGA, and NAM all engage with negative positions on climate policy and have lobbied against climate proposals in the reconciliation bill. EEI demonstrates more mixed positions on climate policy and advocates for the long-term role of fossil gas.