Michigan lawmakers may vote on legislation to provide tax breaks for data centers next week as some legislators continue to demand environmental protections for the power and water-hungry facilities. A representative for State Rep. Joey Andrews (D-Saint Joseph), who sponsored one of the two bills in the Michigan House, told Planet Detroit that the legislation […]
Posted inNews
‘People over profit’: Detroiters tell regulators to deny DTE rate hike
Metro Detroit residents and advocacy groups voiced strong opposition to DTE Energy’s proposed $456 million rate hike, criticizing its impact on low-income communities and the company’s track record on service reliability.
Posted inNews
Trump pledges tariffs and repeats false claim of Chinese automakers building big Mexican factories
By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) — Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday repeated false claims that Chinese automakers are putting up large factories in Mexico, vowing during a stop in the automaking state of Michigan to slap 200% tariffs on any vehicles the unbuilt plants make and ship to the United States. […]
Posted inCommunity
What we’re reading: Democrats struggle to win over Michigan autoworkers
Although there is evidence that EVs generate as many or more jobs than traditional gas-powered vehicles, Donald Trump’s opposition to the EV mandate has resonated with union voters.
Posted inNews
Who is working to preserve and restore wetlands in Metro Detroit?
Organizations like watershed councils, land conservancies and government agencies are protecting wetlands in Metro Detroit to preserve wildlife habitats, improve water quality and reduce flooding risks.
Posted inCommunity
VOICES: Detroit River restoration more important now than ever
The Detroit River is much more than a body of water dividing two countries. It is the lifeblood of our community, a crucial artery in the Great Lakes system, and a symbol of resilience and renewal. As stewards of this remarkable resource, Friends of the Detroit River (FDR) have championed efforts to restore and protect […]
Posted inCommunity, Service, Wetlands
Detroit wetlands offer up urban nature
As Detroit expanded over the past two centuries, one of its most treasured natural resources receded from the city’s riverfront. Wetlands—waterlogged areas where the city’s soils bordered the Detroit River—once stretched a mile wide and rested along the land between Lake St.Clair and Lake Erie. In the years since the Industrial Age in the 1800s, […]
Posted inNews
Free film festival documents landfills, water pollution and lead poisoning
The Better Cities Film Festival, launching this weekend in Detroit’s Campus Martius, will feature films on critical urban issues, from environmental justice to sustainable transportation and placemaking, as part of the Detroit Month of Design. The free festival, now in its 11th year, showcases films that explore how to make cities and neighborhoods better places […]
Posted inService, Wetlands
What Metro Detroiters should know about wetlands
Natural and constructed wetlands can help prevent flooding, provide critical wildlife habitat for wildlife and create recreation opportunities.
Posted inService
Detroit Air Quality Tracker: Moderate air quality persists in Metro Detroit amid warm, dry weather
What you need to know about Canadian wildfire smoke and Detroit air quality all in one place. Updated regularly.