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.
Michigan utilities: Worst in Midwest, still charging premium prices
Michigan’s utilities rank near the bottom nationally for restoring power and average outage times, despite their billion-dollar investments in grid upgrades. DTE and Consumers Energy tout progress, but watchdogs say both still lag on basic maintenance like tree trimming and line inspections. Meanwhile, Michiganders pay above-average energy costs, fueling frustration as customers endure frequent outages and high bills. MLive
MORE COVERAGE
Would $10 million in fines push DTE to improve reliability?
Advocates say plan to improve Michigan energy reliability with fines and incentives may not be enough to influence utilities.
New Michigan power outage map highlights disparities in electricity reliability
A new dataset and power outage map published in Nature tracks the duration of electricity outages across the entire country starting in 2014.
Paving paradise: UM drops $9.5M on Detroit lot, bumps urban farm for parking
The University of Michigan bought a 2-acre lot in downtown Detroit from MGM Grand for $9.5 million, planning to use part of it for parking at its new $250M Center for Innovation campus. The site, currently home to Featherstone Garden, an urban farm, will transition by June 2025, with UM extending the farm’s lease temporarily. The project doubles the center’s footprint and is part of Detroit’s stalled $1.5B District Detroit redevelopment plan. BridgeDetroit
MORE COVERAGE
USDA falls short on bridging gap with Detroit urban farmers
The director of the USDA Detroit office quit shortly after a national urban agriculture convening last week in Detroit.
Composting, water access and backyard chickens: Detroit’s urban farming evolution
The city’s first urban agriculture director, Tepfirah Rushdan, aims to help gardeners access land and water while making urban farming a seamless part of the city’s policy.
Michigan cities take climate action, but critics call plans costly
Cities like Warren, Grand Rapids, and Muskegon are drafting climate action plans to reduce emissions and adapt to extreme weather. Supporters argue these plans are vital to combat climate change’s local impacts, such as severe flooding, while critics claim they waste taxpayer money better spent on other services. As federal climate funding faces uncertainty under a Trump administration, experts warn cities may need to turn to local and private funding to maintain momentum. Detroit News
MORE COVERAGE
Where did all the climate voters go?
Despite the election of Donald Trump, American voters prioritized climate change more than ever before, with environmental ballot measures prevailing in battleground states and Democratic senators running on green platforms winning their races.
Study warns of climate risks to hazardous waste facilities near southern Lake Michigan
A report reveals hazardous waste facilities face climate risks, urging the EPA to offer training and support for managing these threats.
USDA orders raw milk tests for bird flu in Michigan and beyond
Michigan dairy farms are among those in six states now required to provide raw milk samples for bird flu testing, starting Dec. 16, as part of the USDA’s effort to combat the H5N1 virus. The virus, which has devastated poultry flocks and impacted human health sporadically, has raised concerns about milk safety and led to rising egg prices. While pasteurized milk remains safe to drink, raw milk and infected cattle are under scrutiny, with farmers required to cooperate with testing and share epidemiological data if infections are found. Bridge Michigan
Nuclear ambitions: Michigan aims for top spot, critics say taxpayers get burned
Lawmakers are pitching bills to make Michigan the most “pro-nuclear” state, offering incentives for small modular reactors (SMRs) and workforce training programs. Supporters argue the move would position Michigan as a leader in carbon-free energy, attract investments, and help meet clean energy goals. However, critics like Rep. Jenn Hill D-Marquette question nuclear waste disposal and the need for taxpayer subsidies, especially when plants like D.C. Cook have recently slashed their tax obligations, leaving local schools underfunded. MLive
MORE COVERAGE
Could Biden’s nuclear energy push be Trump’s climate compromise?
The Biden Administration plans to triple U.S. nuclear power capacity by 2050, aiming to support large and small reactors, reducing emissions and combating climate change.
Residents voice anger over nuclear waste dumping at Belleville meeting
Michigan lawmakers say new legislation needed to stop out-of-state waste from coming to the state. Residents say they fear the impacts nuclear waste could have on health and the environment.
Michigan aims to reopen nuclear plant, lead on batteries
CO2 2022/2021 : 416.45 ppm / 413.08 ppm Dear Michigan Climate News readers, Michigan needs nuclear power to meet its carbon neutrality goal, according to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — and that's why she supports efforts by Holtec International to reopen the Palisades Plant near Muskegon. The state hopes to lead in new battery technology. A…
$7,500 baby boost: Flint’s Rx Kids tackles poverty one family at a time
Flint’s Rx Kids program is giving expectant mothers $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly for a year after birth, totaling $7,500. Aimed at fighting maternal and infant poverty in a city where 59% of kids live below the poverty line, the initiative has already reached over 1,200 families with funding from state and private sources. Led by Flint pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna, the program is expanding to other Michigan cities while evaluating its impact on child health and family stability. Detroit Free Press
MORE COVERAGE
Michigan Senate greenlights MI Momnibus bills to combat racial gaps in maternal healthcare
The Michigan Senate has passed the MI Momnibus bill package, targeting racial disparities in maternal healthcare for Black and brown mothers, aiming to enhance maternal health outcomes and tackle systemic racism.
Black infant mortality rates spiked in Detroit after record low in 2019
Black mothers and babies fare worse than white counterparts in the city and state–and it’s worsened since the pandemic. Here’s why and what’s being done to address it.
Michigan’s $1B EV battery gamble: Big bucks, few jobs, patience urged
Michigan poured $1 billion into EV battery plant subsidies with another $1 billion promised, yet only 200 of 11,300 pledged jobs have materialized after two years. Projects from Ford, GM, LG, and others face delays, with some like Gotion mired in lawsuits and others years from production. Critics call the subsidies “corporate welfare,” while supporters argue the transformative industry shift needs patience, even as uncertainty around EV adoption and Trump-era policy threats loom. Bridge Michigan
MORE COVERAGE
VP nominee Vance blasts EVs, immigration at Traverse City rally
This coverage is made possible in part through a partnership between IPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization. During a visit to northern Michigan on Wednesday, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance decried plans to grow the manufacturing and use of electric vehicles in the U.S. — focusing on the auto industry as a…
