DTE Energy would retire its two remaining coal plants sooner than planned and triple the amount of renewable energy in its portfolio in the next two decades under a plan filed with state regulators Thursday. The plan projects a $9 billion investment over the next decade, which would “dramatically transform” how the company generates electricity […]
Posted inAccountability, Deep Dives, Lead poisoning
Lead paint is a major threat to kids. Old Detroit homes are full of it, but the city keeps selling them
The Detroit Land Bank sells thousands of cheap homes without disclosing the potential hazards of lead-based paint. Remediation has been slow. LaShawna Anthony needed to move into a new home in the summer of 2020 to get herself and her newborn out of a toxic romantic relationship. Instead of renting a new house, she bought […]
Posted inVoices
OPINION: All Michigan children should get tested for lead at 1 and 2 years of age
Updated 2/8/23 to reflect new legislation. More than 1,000 Detroit children are identified as lead-poisoned each year. And few Detroit kids are even tested for lead. In 2020, only 18% of Detroit kids were tested, making the true number of children in danger likely much higher. That’s why we must pass legislation requiring universal testing. […]
Posted inGuides
How will the Inflation Reduction Act impact Michiganders?
Michiganders will soon be able to get federal funding to cover much or all of the cost of electric stoves hot water heaters, dryers, rooftop solar or heat pumps, which could replace furnaces and function as air conditioners. The money to pay for such upgrades is part of the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law […]
Posted inCommunity
Gaps grow among older, poorer people for walking, biking behaviors
By LIAM JACKSON Capital News Service LANSING – Older and poorer people in Michigan walk and bike far less than their younger and richer counterparts, a gap that grew during the COVID-19 pandemic, a recent study reports. Researchers at Michigan State University published the study documenting the impact in the National Library of Medicine. Prior […]
Posted inUncategorized
From the Headlines- Oct 24 – 28
Recycling hub: Detroit could become a nexus of recycling efforts in the lower peninsula with a new $35 million facility, which city Media Relations Director John Roach said would be located near the former incinerator site at St Aubin and East Ferry streets. Houston-based WM or Waste Management is planning to complete the development by the end of […]
Posted inVoices
OPINION | DTE’s influence on Michigan’s elections is out of control. Here’s what you can do about it.
To meet the challenges of the global climate crisis, we need bold ideas and to speak truth to power. That’s the idea behind Climate/Justice, a Planet Detroit opinion column written by Detroit-based environmental justice activist Michelle Martinez. Martinez writes not only as an activist but as a mother and fourth-generation Detroiter. Martinez will be donating […]
Posted inVoices
OPINION: A vote for climate is a vote for health
The September 16th news roundup by Brian Allnutt published in Planet Detroit awakened a profound sense of urgency in me about the need to elect policymakers who will enact legislation that will reduce heat-trapping emissions quickly enough to avoid the worst climate impacts for our children and others who suffer disproportionately from fossil fuel pollution. […]
Posted inSolutions
Urban Forest School brings nature-based education to Detroit’s kids of color
Erin Preston-Johnson Bevel always loved being in nature. So she wanted to find a way to incorporate those benefits into her child’s education. “You go into nature, and you’re there just receiving all this energy from the forest,” she said. “And [I’m] just wanting to bring that to Detroiters and our little babies.” So Erin […]
Posted inVoices
Carbon offsets: Success or scam?
By CAMERYN CASS Capital News Service LANSING – To help reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, Michigan officials have created a 100,000-acre project in the Pigeon River Country State Forest north of Gaylord that will sell carbon credits to businesses interested in offsetting their emissions. Through such programs, big businesses and corporations can buy […]