Detroit Zoo Now Fully Powered by Wind Energy

ROYAL OAK, MI - The Detroit Zoo, recognized earlier this year for environmental stewardship by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, said Monday it is fully powering its operation with electricity produced by wind farms.

The zoo is purchasing Renewable Energy Credits from ITC Holdings Corp., a Novi-based electricity transmission company.

Detroit Zoological Society executive director and CEO Ron Kagan said in a statement that the plan is the latest in a series of initiatives to reduce the zoo’s ecological footprint.

Related

• Zoo Weans Visitors Off the Bottle — Plastic Water Bottles, That Is
• Zoo Plans to Harness Power of 400 Pounds of Poo

“Our hope is to inspire others to look to clean, renewable energy sources,” Kagan said.

The zoo said electricity generated from renewable sources results in less environmental waste and pollution and displaces other non-renewable sources from the electric grid. It also serves to build the market for renewable energy, which currently accounts for less than 10 percent of total electricity generated nationwide.

Each renewable energy credit — a tradable, nontangible energy commodity — represents 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity delivered to a power grid that was generated from an eligible renewable energy resource such as wind or solar power.

The Detroit Zoo’s RECs are certified by Green e Energy, which provides independent, third-party certification to ensure that renewable energy products meet strict environmental and consumer-protection standards.

Other “green” initiatives — which led to the zoo’s selection as the AZA’s 2015 Green Award — at the zoo and its Belle Isle Nature Zoo include the discontinuation of the sale of bottled water and the construction of the country’s first zoo-based dry biodigester, which converts 400 tons of animal waste into biogas.