Overview:
-Nearly 30,000 DTE Energy customers are required to pay their electric bills in cash.
-All residents displaced by a February water main break in a Southwest Detroit neighborhood have returned home.
-The Trump administration stops work on the National Climate Assessment that's published roughly every five years.
🧑🚒 Ontario marsh fire sends smoke into metro Detroit Smoke from a marsh fire in Ontario was visible across metro Detroit on April 20, prompting concerns among residents. The fire, located in a marsh area near the U.S.-Canada border, produced a significant smoke plume that drifted into southeastern Michigan. Local authorities monitored air quality levels, advising sensitive individuals to limit outdoor activities. Firefighting efforts were underway in Ontario to contain the blaze and mitigate its impact on neighboring regions. 📌 Source: The Detroit News
💡 Lawmakers push to ban political donations by Michigan utility giants A bipartisan group of Michigan House lawmakers has introduced a four-bill package aimed at banning political contributions from major utilities like DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, as well as other corporations seeking large government contracts. Backed by the activist coalition Taking Back Our Power, the proposal seeks to curb corporate influence in state politics. A similar effort failed in 2024, but supporters hope for progress under the current Republican-led House. 📌 Source: Bridge Michigan
🔌 DTE criticized for requiring thousands to pay bills in cash In 2023, DTE Energy required nearly 50,000 electric customers to pay their bills exclusively in cash after bounced checks or declined payments. A DTE spokesperson says the policy is intended to prevent customers from accumulating debt. The number of customers facing a cash payment requirement has fallen to 27,880. This policy raised concerns among local governments and advocacy groups, who argue it disproportionately affects elderly, low-income, and vulnerable residents by forcing them to carry large sums of cash to payment locations. 📌 Source: MLive
🏠 All displaced Southwest Detroit residents return home after February flood All southwest Detroit residents displaced by the Feb. 17 water main break have returned home as of April 7, according to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. The rupture of a 54-inch steel transmission line flooded streets and homes, forcing 206 households into hotels. The city replaced furnaces and water heaters and resolved utility issues. About 600 damage claims have been filed with Mackinaw Administrators, with roughly 20 settled so far. 📌 Source: The Detroit News
🌎 Trump administration halts National Climate Assessment by cutting key staff funding The Trump administration has halted work on the National Climate Assessment by cutting funding for the staff who coordinate its production. This congressionally mandated report, published roughly every five years, provides accessible climate data used by teachers, farmers, emergency managers, and local officials. The next edition, due in 2027, is now unlikely to proceed. Hundreds of volunteer scientists contribute to the report, but without staff support, the process has effectively stopped. 📌 Source: NPR
☢️ DTE eyes Fermi nuclear expansion to power Michigan data center boom DTE Energy is evaluating an expansion of its Fermi 2 nuclear plant to meet the anticipated surge in electricity demand from large-scale data centers. The company is in discussions with developers about adding gigawatts of new power capacity, driven by the region’s favorable conditions for data centers essential for AI and cloud computing. However, energy experts express concerns about potential overbuilding and the risk of stranded costs if projected data center developments do not materialize as expected. contribute to the report, but without staff support, the process has effectively stopped. 📌 Source: Crain’s Detroit Business