James Leidel

James provides engineering support for large commercial and industrial DTE Gas customers and Gas Major Accounts representatives for both SE and greater Michigan.  Through energy audits, engineering studies, and technical training, his goal is to help facility owners understand how to power their operations efficiently while reducing costs and carbon footprint.  While energy efficiency is the primary focus, additional mission critical benefits of carbon reduction, reliability and backup power are also addressed.

Before joining DTE, James worked at Oakland University (OU) for sixteen years, a Energy Manager in Facilities Management, followed by a position as the Director of the Clean Energy Research Center in the School of Engineering.  James has created and taught clean energy courses, thermodynamics, and other courses for OU environmental science and mechanical engineering departments.  Even during his time at OU, James was passionate about CHP, renewables and green buildings.  He facilitated the implementation of a 4.6 megawatt gas turbine installation, as well as a 400 kilowatt micro-turbines project, multiple solar PV installations, a biomass boiler, and the first LEED Platinum rated facility for a Michigan university.  He has hosted multiple CHP conferences and also created a CHP engineering course for OU.  This experience inspired his career move to DTE where he inspires and assists business customers across the state to identify and execute customized, innovative solutions for onsite power generation and microgrids.