American Lung Association report finds nearly half the nation lives in areas with unhealthy air, warns EPA cuts could make the problem worse.
Brian Allnutt, Planet Detroit
Posted inCivic and Community Information
DTE Energy to request another rate hike on heels of $217M January increase
DTE Energy’s upcoming April 23 rate hike request follows a recent $217-million increase for metro Detroit customers that sparked public outcry over high bills, frequent outages.
Posted inEnvironment, Health and Welfare
Climate change could trigger more water main breaks like Southwest Detroit disaster
Increasingly volatile winter temperatures and prolonged summer heat may be creating problems for Detroit’s aging water infrastructure.
Posted inCivic and Community Information, Health and Welfare
GLWA customers challenge 5.9% water rate hike: ‘Why now?’
Residents say rate hike will add to the economic stress created by high housing and energy costs and argue shutoffs could create a public health emergency.
Posted inEnvironment
EGLE poised to allow more pollution in southwest Detroit
Advocates are concerned that “significant impact levels” could be used to greenlight more projects in the already highly polluted area.
Posted inHealth and Welfare, Political and Public Policy Information
Michigan legislators push for water affordability in lame duck
Michigan legislators and advocates push for a 2023 bill package to create a statewide water affordability fund, capping bills for low-income residents via a $2 surcharge on ratepayers’ bills, aiding over 370,000 households.
Posted inEnvironment
Analysis: What Trump could mean for democracy and the environment
Environmental and justice advocates had expressed concern about a second Trump presidency, citing Project 2025’s threat to climate action, environmental enforcement and PFAS regulations.
Posted inEnvironment
Will DTE face consequences for ghostwritten rate case comments?
Advocates say regulators should deny rate hike to restore faith in the process, while AG’s office says it is paying attention to the ghostwriting issue as it fights “excessive” rate hike requests.
Posted inEnvironment
DTE Energy ghostwriting comments to push $456 million rate hike
DTE Energy’s $456.4 million rate hike is under scrutiny amid reports that some supporting businesses may have had their comments drafted by the utility.
Posted inCivic and Community Information
‘People over profit’: Detroiters tell regulators to deny DTE rate hike
Metro Detroit residents and advocacy groups oppose DTE’s proposed $456.4 million rate hike, citing its burden on low-income communities and poor service reliability.