Records show state, local and federal officials tried for years to compel repairs that could prevent a flood, but its private owners didn’t act. Once again, regulators are finger-pointing about who is to blame.
Kelly House
Kelly House covers Michigan environmental issues for Bridge. She joined the Bridge staff in March 2020. Previously, Kelly reported for the Oregonian, where her coverage of the environment and other topics garnered national honors and sparked state efforts to better protect Oregon’s natural resources. She has a master’s degree in environmental law from Lewis & Clark Law School and a bachelor’s in journalism from Michigan State University. She is from Harrison and lives in Lansing. You can reach her at khouse@bridgemi.com or on Twitter at @Kelly_M_House.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
As floodwaters rise, Michigan infrastructure on brink: Dams need $1B in repairs
Climate change and delayed improvements to the state’s infrastructure could come to roost, as rivers threaten to overtop century-old dams.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Ownership disputes, aging design add to Cheboygan dam’s failure threat
Federal officials have repeatedly told the owner of a nonfunctioning hydro plant connected to the dam to bring it back online, but the company has not done so. Now, state officials are scrambling to restart the plant in hopes of staving off dam failure.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Consumers Energy’s sale plan would turn unprofitable dams into $270M payday
The utility’s plan to sell 13 unprofitable dams and buy back the power would boost its profits by $270 million while ratepayer costs skyrocket. Critics of the sale are crying foul, but Consumers maintains its sale plan is the cheapest option for ratepayers.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Trump administration plans closure of 4 Michigan forestry research centers
The closures are part of a broader consolidation and reorganization that will move the US Forest Service headquarters from the nation’s capital to Salt Lake City.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
EPA move on microplastics, pharmaceuticals draws mixed response in Michigan
Trump administration officials said Thursday they’ll add the two pollutants to a federal priority list — but stopped short of enacting monitoring requirements that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has requested.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Consumers seeks to delay millions in flood control upgrades as it pursues dam sales
The utility wants federal regulators to sign off on delays to spillway upgrades at Michigan’s largest dam. Opponents fear that’s a risky gamble.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Lansing plant built for EVs will supply Tesla grid storage batteries
LG Energy Solution has inked a $4.3 billion deal to make lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells for Tesla at the site. It’s the latest shift among many as faltering EV demand and surging electricity demand prompt EV battery plants to retool their production lines for a new use.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Google inks deal with DTE Energy for another southeast Michigan data center
The company announced Tuesday that it’s exploring a possible data center development in Van Buren Township, west of the Detroit airport, while DTE Energy announced a 2.7-gigawatt energy deal with the company.
Posted inMichigan Government
Michigan synagogue attack: FBI investigating as ‘targeted act of violence’
The suspect is dead and no congregants were injured after an attacker drove a vehicle into a metro Detroit synagogue and was confronted by security officers on Thursday afternoon, according to authorities.