The plant along Lake Michigan is 53 years-old and closed in 2022. But there’s momentum to bring it back online amid a push to diversify national energy sources.
Kelly House
Kelly House covers Michigan's environment for Bridge Michigan, with a focus on the Great Lakes, climate change, industrial pollution, water quality and wildlife. She joined Bridge in March 2020 after reporting for the Oregonian, where her coverage earned national honors and sparked efforts to better protect Oregon's natural resources. Kelly holds a master's degree in environmental law from Lewis & Clark Law School and a bachelor's in journalism from Michigan State University.
Kelly grew up in Harrison and is based in Lansing.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan lawmakers divided but OK tax breaks to lure data centers
Proponents say offering tax breaks will help lure tech companies to multibillion dollar server farms in Michigan. But opponents fear the energy-hogging facilities will cause Michigan to falter on its climate goals.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Could parks and beaches replace coal plants in Michigan? Bay City may find out
At the former Dan E. Karn coal plant, a vision has emerged to replace smokestacks with solar panels and parks. Some hope to replicate the model amid a rush of coal plant closures.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Consumers Energy may get $770M from feds to fix century-old Michigan dams
The dam wars may intensify, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wants the Michigan utility to apply for loans to upgrade old, unprofitable dams it is looking to unload. Conservationists cry foul.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Fed up with geese, Michigan abandons relocation efforts. Next up: killing them
Geese are a conservation success and huge pain in many communities. So next year, Michigan officials will begin allowing some cities and lake associations to apply for permits to kill them.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Palisades nuclear relaunch gets more subsidies in Michigan — and more backlash
The federal government will provide more than $600 million to help two rural electricity cooperatives buy money from the nuclear plant. While proponents celebrate, anti-nuclear activists say the money could be better spent elsewhere.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Report: Michigan's weak pollution cleanups are costing future generations
By refusing to clean up their mess, researchers found, polluters are pushing untold costs and risk onto the public. And Michigan law allows it.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
As Consumers mulls selling 13 dams, some in Michigan fear another disaster
As it looks to exit the unprofitable hydropower business, Consumers is mulling offers from a handful of potential buyers. But hydro watchdogs warn that cut-rate sales of aging dams often come with hidden public costs.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Amid ‘green burial’ dispute, judge rejects Michigan township’s cemetery ban
After a Grand Rapids couple announced plans to offer green burials in the woods outside Newaygo, local officials responded by banning all cemeteries. On Thursday, a judge called that unconstitutional.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Which Michigan counties have most EVs? Which have none? Politics play a role
Michigan lags nationwide in EV adoption, but differences are vast among counties. It may surprise no one that counties that went for Joe Biden in 2020 tend to have far more EVs.