Michigan Environment Watch

Democrats took a step forward in their quest to abolish a controversial “ban on bans” of plastic bags. However, some are concerned that local measures could be costly.

As Consumers Energy ponders the fate of its 13 hydropower dams, nearby residents push to keep them operational. But Consumers officials have said they won’t allow customers to absorb the $781 million cost of doing so.

Michigan’s wild places — and the fish and wildlife that call them home — are under threat as warmer temperatures cause species to migrate northward and rivers to overheat. Advocates called for more resources to protect Michigan’s fish and game from those changes.

The auto industry is getting billions to build battery plants on rural land, while taxpayers pay for contaminated plants left behind. Will history repeat itself? Or will Michigan forge a new path?

Michigan went from strict cleanup laws to among the most lenient. Three decades and 26,000 contaminated sites later, will the state reverse course? Democrats, GOP and business leaders see areas to agree on.

Bridge Michigan set out to quantify the financial and environmental toll factory contamination has exacted on Michigan, and what the state can do to avoid repeating history in the shift to EVs. Here’s what we found.

Our first-of-its-kind analysis identified at least $259 million in publicly subsidized cleanups at more than 100 sites linked to Michigan’s automotive industry. Here’s why the tab is almost certainly far higher.

Michner Plating, a former automotive metal plater in Jackson, left contaminated soil and groundwater when it went bankrupt and closed shop. Auto suppliers are responsible for some of Michigan’s costliest cleanups.

Experts say Michigan can do a better job clearing contaminants that linger from the state’s industrial past and avoid leaving blighted properties in the future. They offer five suggestions.

Experts encourage Michiganders to squish and report lanternflies which can destroy crops and ruin outdoor activities. The invasive species excretes a sticky liquid when it feeds on plants that can attract other pests like yellowjackets, flies and ants.

The number of dark sky protected spaces is growing in Michigan, with visitors coming from across the country to see how the state’s glassy waters reflect the night sky.

As Michigan Democrats push energy bills setting ambitious deadlines for utilities to go ‘carbon neutral,’ they face pressure from all sides. Environmentalists want more, while business groups say the measures move too quickly.

Fall colors may be slightly delayed in Michigan this year because of warmer weather patterns.

The Supreme Court ruling puts an end to charges brought in 2021 by Attorney General Dana Nessel against seven state officials for their role in the Flint water crisis.

Phosphorus pollution feeds cyanobacterial blooms in the western basin of Lake Erie. Ohio submitted a plan to reduce phosphorus runoff, but many believe it will fail.

Months after proposing a 2035 deadline for utilities to get all their energy from carbon-free sources, Democratic lawmakers say they’re moving the deadline to 2040 and making other changes.

The Nishimura comet was the most visible Tuesday, but sky watchers will be able to see it all week long as it approaches the sun this weekend.

A rural Michigan power cooperative has agreed to buy up to two-thirds of the plant’s power for roughly another 28 years. Other hurdles to a restart have yet to be cleared, including an application for a federal loan.

The company seeks to assure the public the air is safe, despite more than 100 complaints to the state.

Government auditors say EPA officials failed to follow a new 'elevation policy' that’s meant to generate a stronger response to the most urgent environmental and public health threats.