Garden power sparks aid for region's needy

DTE Energy is putting to good use the land ringing its power substations by planting vegetable gardens.

The Detroit utility giant has teamed up with Gleaners Community Food Bank to grow tomatoes, lettuce, herbs and other greens at six more substations in southeastern Michigan, expanding a community gardening program begun last year.

Already, DTE has been tilling land buffering its Auburn Hills and Plymouth Township substations, a project that yielded more than 5,300 pounds of produce last year for the needy. Organizers hope to boost their harvest this year to about 8 tons.

“With so many people losing their jobs, food subsistence is getting harder,” said Vince Dow, vice president, distribution and operations at DTE Energy, who one day earlier this month was helping to establish a 2-acre plot at a substation in Allen Park.

Detroit News