Overview:
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs legislation allocating $41.8 million for 85 conservation and recreation projects statewide.
- Conservation groups secure purchase option for 440 acres of rare lakeplain prairie in Brownstown Township's Sibley Prairie area.
- A Pontiac shelter lost control of its website to a former employee during a critical fundraising period.
🏭 Trump administration’s coal plant order costs Consumers Energy $615K per day Consumers Energy has lost approximately $615,000 daily operating the J.H. Campbell coal plant under Trump administration emergency orders, totaling $80 million in net costs through September. The utility plans to spread costs across 11 Midwestern states, refunding Michigan customers their share. Federal orders delayed the plant’s retirement on the basis of grid reliability concerns, but critics call it unnecessary, noting Michigan has replacement capacity. Environmental groups and state officials have challenged the orders in court. 📌 Source: MLive
🖋️ Whitmer signs bills allocating $41.8 million for Michigan conservation projects Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan environmental bills allocating $41.8 million for 85 conservation and recreation projects statewide, including wildlife habitat protection, new trails, and park improvements. The legislation extends water quality protection fees through 2029 and continues environmental fee collection generating $7.6 million annually. Additional funding supports drinking water operator training and certification programs. 📌 Source: The Alpena News
🦋 Sibley Prairie: coalition secures option on 440 acres of vanishing ecosystem Conservation groups secured a purchase option for 440 acres of rare lakeplain prairie in Brownstown Township’s Sibley Prairie area, thanks to a $1 million loan. They have until late 2026 to raise $6 million to buy the property, which contains 158 acres of high-quality wetlands and threatened species habitat. Michigan has lost 99% of its former prairie land. The Save Sibley Prairie Coalition has raised over $200,000, aiming for $500,000 by year-end. 📌 Source: The Detroit News
🛏️ Pontiac shelter loses website access during critical fundraising period A Pontiac homeless shelter lost control of its website after a former employee, listed as the domain owner, refused to transfer ownership and allegedly said they had an offer for $30,000 for the site. HOPE Shelters filed a police report. The situation hampers fundraising during a critical time when its facilities are at capacity. The nonprofit operates year-round emergency and recuperative shelters on a $1 million budget, with only 44% covered by government contracts. Donations were temporarily blocked but have since been restored. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press
🤖 How data centers are reshaping energy, land, economy America’s AI boom is transforming the landscape with massive data centers consuming enormous electricity and resources. Companies like CoreWeave and Microsoft are building warehouse-sized facilities requiring power equivalent to entire cities, driving up utility rates and accelerating fossil fuel use. The infrastructure boom — expected to represent 2%-3% of U.S. GDP — faces uncertainties about AI’s profitability, potential data shortages, and whether adding more computing power will continue improving AI capabilities. 📌 Source: The New Yorker
🦫 Consumers Energy Proposes selling dams for $1, buying power back at double market rate Consumers Energy filed with Michigan regulators to sell 13 aging hydroelectric dams for $1 each to private equity firm Hull Street Energy, then buy back the electricity at $160 per megawatt-hour, double the market rate. The 30-year deal could cost ratepayers over $3 billion. Conservation groups question whether the private owner can maintain the dams safely, citing past failures like Edenville Dam. Consumers says the deal preserves recreational reservoirs while transferring liability risks. 📌 Source: MLive