Overview:
- Oakland and Macomb water officials Jim Nash and Candice Miller, who have feuded over wastewater discharges into the Clinton River, celebrate completion of $300 million infrastructure upgrade.
- DTE Energy reportedly requires the signing of non-disclosure agreements for the payment of some funds for damage that occurs during power surges and outages.
- Ten Great Lakes Native American tribes urge Supreme Court to rule against Enbridge in Line 5 pipeline dispute.
🥶 Federal shutdown, mass layoffs delay heating assistance for millions this winter Millions of low-income Americans face delays in federal heating assistance as government shutdown and Trump administration layoffs stall the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. Congress approved $4 billion, but funding remains stalled with winter approaching. The entire LIHEAP staff was fired earlier this year as part of Trump’s efficiency drive overseen by Elon Musk. Energy assistance advocates warn families will suffer as electricity bills surge. About 21 million households are behind on energy bills, with arrears reaching $23 billion. 📌 Source: The Guardian
🚧 Oakland, Macomb officials celebrate wastewater system overhaul A 15-year, $300 million upgrade to Detroit’s northeast sewage pumping station serving Oakland and Macomb counties is complete. The project modernized the facility built in 1969-1972, which serves over 830,000 residents with a 400-million-gallon daily capacity. Improvements include mechanical and electrical upgrades, sewer lining, and revitalized pumps. Funding came from a federal grant ($1 million), Michigan’s Clean Water revolving fund ($125 million), and local sources. Oakland County Water Resource Commissioner Jim Nash and Macomb County Public Works Administrator Candice Miller celebrated the completion last week. 📌 Source: The Macomb Daily
🖋️ DTE customers question non-disclosure agreements tied to damage payments DTE Energy offers some customers payments for property damage after power surges and outages, but requires signing non-disclosure agreements to accept. Royal Oak gym owner Erin Szaroleta was offered 4% of losses; Ann Arbor resident Katherine French received 20%. Both declined. DTE says it resolves claims fairly and occasionally offers “goodwill gestures” without admitting liability, calling signed releases “standard across the industry.” Legal experts say the practice may reduce transparency. State regulators lack authority over utility damage claims. 📌 Source: MLive
🍼 Corewell Health reviews future of Wayne Hospital’s maternity care program Corewell Health is evaluating closing the labor and delivery unit at its Wayne Hospital, citing parents’ preference for nearby sites with more comprehensive programs like its Dearborn hospital. U.S. Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Debbie Dingell urged hospital leaders to keep the unit open, warning closures would force at-risk patients to travel miles for care and impact resident training. Corewell spokesperson Mark Geary said the health system remains committed to providing OBGYN care for the Wayne community regardless of delivery location decisions. 📌 Source: The Detroit News
☀️ 21 states challenge federal termination of $7B Solar for All initiative Michigan and 20 other states are suing the Trump administration over termination of the $7 billion Solar for All program, which helped low-income households install rooftop solar panels. The EPA rescinded Michigan’s $156 million grant in August. Attorney General Dana Nessel called the cancellation “deeply harmful,” claiming it violates the Administrative Procedures Act. Michigan had announced 13 pilot projects expected to create 700 jobs and save households $400 annually on electric bills before the federal funding was cut. 📌 Source: MLive
⚖️ Great Lakes tribes urge Supreme Court to rule against Enbridge in Line 5 case Ten Great Lakes Native American tribes filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to rule against Enbridge in its Line 5 pipeline dispute with Michigan. Five tribes hold 1836 treaty rights to use the Straits of Mackinac. Attorney General Dana Nessel sued Enbridge in 2019; the company sought to move the case to federal court in 2021, exceeding the 30-day deadline to do so. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on whether the deadline applies. Tribes argue Enbridge’s “procedural gamesmanship” delays resolution of risks to treaty-protected resources. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press