Environment
House Dems introduce package to hold polluters accountable
House Democrats introduced legislation Monday that would hold companies accountable for polluting the air, land and water in Michigan by increasing financial and criminal penalties. The eight-bill package would fine companies that violate the Natural Resources and Environmental Protections Act (NREPA) based on revenue, rather than a fixed amount, eliminate the statute of limitations to […]
First Nation tribe rejects nuclear waste site on Lake Huron
An indigenous community has uprooted a Canadian energy company’s plan to build a permanent nuclear waste repository by the shore of Lake Huron, after years of vocal opposition to the proposal by Canadian and American lawmakers and residents. The company, Ontario Power Generation (OPG), began considering the spot in Ontario across from Michigan’s “Thumb” years […]
Nessel sues Trump admin for rolling back chemical spill safety measures
Attorney General Dana Nessel is suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for gutting safeguards to prevent and limit injuries and deaths from dangerous chemical accidents. Nessel joined a coalition of 15 attorneys general and the city of Philadelphia on Wednesday to challenge the Trump EPA’s rollback of former President Obama-era amendments to its Risk Management […]
House measure urges Canada not to store nuclear waste on Great Lakes
A bipartisan measure aimed at putting “moral pressure” on Congress to prevent Canada from storing nuclear waste on Lake Huron has advanced from a House committee. Canada’s Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has been eyeing a spot on Lake Huron, right across the lake from Michigan’s “Thumb,” as one of its two top choices to […]
Climate takes center stage in Dems’ sweeping infrastructure plan
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Democrats this week unveiled plans to spend $760 billion over five years on infrastructure upgrades throughout the country. A central theme throughout their plan: combating climate change. The announcement happened to take place hours before Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gave her second State of the State address in Lansing. Whitmer, who […]
From Milliken to fashion mania: Top lines of Whitmer’s 2nd State of the State
After Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s first State of the State address last year, FOX-2 decided to play fashion critic — and national media, including journalists at the Washington Post and CNN — weren’t having it. The metro Detroit TV station ran a story with anonymous commenters critiquing Whitmer’s blue dress and body, something the governor appeared […]
After a year battling Republicans, Whitmer vows executive action on roads, other priorities
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was not shy Wednesday evening about addressing the partisan roadblocks her administration faced over the last year from the Republican-controlled Legislature, which stymied some of her biggest policy goals. The Democratic governor delivered her second State of the State address in the Michigan House chamber, taking a look back at the progress […]
Survey: Whitmer should continue fighting for ‘quality of life’ issues
As Gov. Gretchen Whitmer prepares to offer her second State of the State message Wednesday night, Michigan residents have told a progressive nonprofit in recent months that clean water, education, infrastructure and health care are their top concerns. “In 2019, we saw the governor take action on these issues,” said For Our Future (FOF) spokesperson […]
GM announces $2.2B for electric vehicles at Detroit-Hamtramck plant
General Motors plans to invest $2.2 billion at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant to produce battery electric trucks and other electric vehicles, making it the company’s first fully dedicated electric vehicle assembly plant. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday joined GM leaders and UAW officials to tout the company’s investment in green energy. “Today’s announcement builds on […]
Enbridge Line 5 rod stuck in Straits more than 5x longer than 1st reported to state
A steel drill rod that became lodged in the Straits of Mackinac lakebed during an equipment collapse in September is at least five times longer than embattled Canadian oil giant Enbridge previously reported to the state – and exactly how much longer is still unclear. On Jan. 7, the Advance first reported that a metal rod […]
Whitmer creates Michigan’s 1st environmental justice panel
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced this week the first Michigan Advisory Council for Environmental Justice (MACEJ). The 21-member council will advise the Interagency Environmental Justice Response Team (IEJRT), which works with the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to assure all Michigan residents receive equal protections from environmental hazards. Community activists in areas like […]
Study: PFAS found in Ann Arbor drinking water
Laboratory tests carried out by nonprofit activist organization Environmental Working Group (EWG) found evidence of PFAS contaminants in the city of Ann Arbor’s drinking water, according to a new study. Tap water tests conducted in Ann Arbor between May and December 2019 found the city’s drinking water contained 15.8 parts per trillion (ppt) of perfluorooctanoic […]