Here’s a weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at some of the stories we’re following. Have a reading recommendation? Let us know at nina@planetdetroit.org.
DTE criticism gets stamped out: Lawmaker barred from calling out energy giant
Michigan Rep. Dylan Wegela says he was censored for calling out DTE Energy’s influence on the Legislature in a constituent mailer. The House Business Office flagged his comments, citing rules against criticism of government or private entities, even as DTE faces backlash over rising rates and poor service. Wegela likened the restrictions to “1984,” but the House stood firm, keeping “outsized” corporate influence off the mailing list. Detroit News
MORE DTE COVERAGE
DTE Energy ghostwriting comments to push $456 million rate hike
DTE Energy’s $456.4 million rate hike is under scrutiny amid reports that some supporting businesses may have had their comments drafted by the utility.
Detroit splits disaster cash: Flood aid goes to housing, not basement backups
Detroit City Council voted 6-3 to use $47.6 million in federal flood aid for affordable housing, sewer repairs, and homeless shelters. Critics, like Council Member Latisha Johnson, argued the funds should expand the city’s basement backup program, helping residents recover from 2021’s devastating floods. Supporters warned delays could jeopardize the $95 million windfall, with Coleman Young II quipping, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” Bridge Detroit
MORE FLOODING COVERAGE
What will it take to protect Metro Detroiters from basement flooding?
On the eastside of Detroit, car alarms alerted Terri Henderson to the water that was quickly overtaking her neighborhood in the early morning of Saturday June, 26. By the time she looked in the basement, the water was nearly up to the top of the stairs. “Outside you couldn’t get out the front or back…
Detroit greenlights solar farms, skips zoning rules
Detroit’s City Council voted to let city-owned solar farms bypass zoning regulations by calling them an “essential government function.” While some council members fear legal backlash from private solar companies, legal experts say Detroit’s move is solid under state law. The new ordinance also includes requirements for landscaping, accessibility, and fire safety—because even solar power needs to play nice with its neighbors. Bridge Detroit
MORE SOLAR FARM COVERAGE
City council approves first phase of Detroit solar farms plan
Council President Sheffield voices concern over ‘imminent’ legal action against the plan and DTE’s involvement as a developer.
Detroit to Trump: Don’t kill the EV rules we already bet billions on
Ford, GM, and Stellantis are asking President-elect Trump to keep Biden’s EV regulations, despite his campaign promise to scrap them. Automakers argue they’ve already poured billions into EV production and need consistent rules to compete globally, fearing cheap gas-guzzlers could undercut their investments. Trump, backed by oil allies, isn’t thrilled, but Detroit’s message is clear: “Mend it, don’t end it.” The New York Times
MORE FLOODING COVERAGE
What Trump can do to reverse US climate policy − and what he probably can’t change
Gautam Jain, Columbia University As the U.S. prepares for another Trump administration, one area unambiguously in the incoming president’s crosshairs is climate policy. Although he has not released an official climate agenda, Donald Trump’s playbook from his last stint in the Oval Office and his frequent complaints about clean energy offer some clues to what’s…
Biden’s ‘green new scam’ fuels Michigan boom—and might boost Trump
A $1.4 billion solar wafer plant and expanded semiconductor manufacturing in Saginaw County show Biden’s CHIPS Act is powering Michigan’s manufacturing renaissance. These projects, with $325 million in federal incentives, promise thousands of jobs but could face uncertainty under Trump, who criticized the clean energy push but now stands to benefit politically. As EVs and microchips surge, even critics admit: undoing these investments might be harder than it sounds. The Detroit News
Michigan eyes massive underground CO2 storage, legislative push begins
Lawmakers are advancing a bipartisan plan to let Michigan permit its own carbon capture and storage projects, cutting out EPA delays. With geological formations capable of holding over 70 billion tons of CO2, the state could store its emissions for centuries while driving clean-energy job growth. Backed by business, labor, and environmental groups, the effort marks a big step toward reducing emissions—but critics warn of risks like leaks and weak monitoring. The Detroit News | Michigan Public
Wild turkeys make a Michigan comeback—and bring moose along for the ride
Once wiped out by settlers, Michigan’s wild turkey population now thrives statewide thanks to decades of restoration efforts—and some crafty wildlife trades. The state even swapped turkeys with Ontario in exchange for moose, now thriving in the Upper Peninsula. With 200,000 turkeys roaming Michigan, they’re a hunter’s delight, but don’t expect store-bought flavor—wild turkey tastes more like its bug-based diet. Detroit Free Press