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.
Detroit rushes solar vote before Trump inauguration
Detroit City Council is fast-tracking approvals for a neighborhood solar field project ahead of Trump’s inauguration, fearing potential federal climate funding clawbacks. The $20 million project aims to power 127 municipal buildings while offering local homeowners energy-efficiency upgrades or buyouts. Officials hope to lock in contracts to secure federal tax credits that might vanish under the new administration. Source: Axios Detroit
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Detroit’s solar neighborhoods initiative picks final sites: Greenfield-McNichols, Houston-Whittier
The solar arrays will help power 127 city buildings. Homeowners in these areas will receive twice their home’s fair market value or $90,000, whichever is higher.
Detroit unveils designs for first solar neighborhoods
Detroit’s first solar neighborhoods aim to integrate renewable energy and community gardens into the urban landscape, as unveiled by Mayor Mike Duggan and city officials.
Detroit secures $347M federal grant for flood recovery and prevention
Detroit will receive nearly $347 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to recover from severe storms and flooding in August 2023. The funds will help repair storm damage, improve sewer infrastructure, and prevent future flooding. In total, Michigan is receiving $461 million in HUD grants, with $70 million allocated to Wayne County and $44 million to the state. Source: Michigan Public
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Can ‘nature-based solutions’ head off flooding in metro Detroit?
Regional parks and planning agencies seek open spaces and preserves to help solve regional flooding and build climate resiliency. Will it work?
On Detroit’s flood-prone east side, residents wonder: Will decision-makers ever ‘do the right thing’ for them?
The Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood is used to flooding – but storms of the past decade have put it on the brink.
Bird flu outbreak at Oakland County park sparks monitoring of 11 people
An H5N1 bird flu outbreak at Hess-Hathaway Park in Waterford Township led to the culling of over 100 birds and the monitoring of 11 people exposed to the infected flock. One person with flu-like symptoms is awaiting test results, while health officials stress the low risk to the public. Portions of the park remain closed, and officials aim to reopen the farm by spring 2025. Source: Detroit Free Press, MLive
2024 was the hottest year ever, and your wallet is feeling it
Science agencies confirmed 2024 as the hottest year on record, with global temperatures surpassing the previous high in 2023. Rising insurance costs, taxpayer-funded disaster relief, and climate-driven crop damage are hitting consumers nationwide, even in Michigan. Experts warn that the financial toll of climate change will only grow as extreme weather events intensify. Source: Michigan Public
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Detroit needs a better plan for extreme heat, experts and advocates say
Researchers found Detroit would likely suffer more fatalities than either Atlanta or Phoenix during a heatwave when power remained on, in part because of limited access to air conditioning.
Analysis: Detroit among most impacted cities in the country for the urban heat island effect
Meanwhile, ‘heat domes’ raise Michigan temps and drive powerful storms. Here’s how.
Whitmer’s climate progress on water, justice faces hurdles as GOP gains ground
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has made bold strides in climate action, including a landmark 2023 package to decarbonize electricity by 2040 and boost renewable energy. Her tenure also prioritized water protections after the Flint crisis, setting PFAS standards and expanding environmental justice initiatives. However, critics point to slow progress on air quality and the unresolved Line 5 pipeline dispute. With the GOP controlling the state House and federal climate funding under threat from the Trump administration, Whitmer’s final years may focus on safeguarding achievements rather than pursuing new climate and water justice goals. Source: Bloomberg Law
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Whitmer signs data center bill, utility regulator worries about stranded assets
Governor Whitmer has signed a use tax exemption for large data centers in Michigan, potentially attracting wealthy companies to the state. Environmental advocates warn that the high water and energy demands of these facilities could undermine state climate goals and raise residents’ utility bills.
Michigan sends millions to towns that welcome solar projects
Michigan is offering $30 million in grants to rural communities that permit renewable energy projects, with some towns seeing their budgets nearly double. The funds, aimed at incentivizing local governments to approve solar and wind farms, follow new state laws allowing the Michigan Public Service Commission to overrule local permitting decisions. Critics call it wasteful, while small towns say the cash is a game-changer for roads and public services. Source: The Detroit News
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Public comment open for potential solar development on state forest land near Gaylord
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ plan to lease over 400 acres in Gaylord for solar development has ignited debate and demands for transparency from legislators and environmental advocates.
Who’s behind a ballot initiative to repeal Michigan’s renewable energy siting laws?
Organizer tied to fossil fuel groups, but denies influence.
Michigan pushes to modernize building codes despite industry resistance
Michigan is moving forward with updating its decade-old building codes to improve energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions, adopting standards based on a 2021 model. Homebuilders argue the updates will increase costs and are lobbying for the newer, more flexible 2024 codes instead. Environmentalists support immediate action, noting the 2021 codes could save Michiganders $7.2 million annually in energy costs and significantly reduce emissions. Source: MLive
Line 5 tunnel project faces new legal challenge over permit approval
Environmental groups and tribal nations are challenging the Michigan Public Service Commission’s permit for Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel project, arguing it ignored risks like oil spills, climate change impacts, and disruption to tribal lands. Ongoing lawsuits target the aging pipeline’s safety, including a state-level case to shut it down and a federal appeal over its operation. Meanwhile, the tunnel’s projected cost has ballooned to potentially triple its original $500 million estimate, and international tensions over U.S.-Canada energy trade add to the uncertainty surrounding Line 5’s future. Source: Michigan Public, Michigan Advance, Detroit News
Flint water settlement payouts stalled by appeals and delays
More than 27,000 approved claims from Flint’s $626 million water crisis settlement remain unpaid due to thousands of appeals and reconsideration requests. The settlement process, criticized as overly complicated, has frustrated residents, with many still waiting for compensation nearly three years after the settlement was approved. Advocacy groups and local leaders are calling for expedited payments, transparency, and clearer messaging about Flint’s water safety.Source: MLive
Michigan winters losing their freeze, study shows
Michigan winters are warming, with nine fewer freezing days annually due to climate change, according to a new study by Climate Central. The effects are most pronounced along the Lower Peninsula’s coastline, while inland snowbelts in the Upper Peninsula have seen smaller losses. Researchers warn that fewer freezing days mean challenges for agriculture, winter sports, and ecosystems, with snowshoe hares and Michigan’s fruit farmers among those hardest hit. Sources: Bridge Michigan, Yahoo News