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.
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 inBusiness Watch
‘They destroyed our little town.’ What Michigan’s auto industry left behind
Milan, Romeo and Wyoming are Michigan towns with something in common: All are sitting on shuttered auto plants where legacy pollution may complicate their path to recovery.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Key findings in Bridge Michigan auto project
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.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
How Bridge tallied $259M in public costs for auto industry pollution
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.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Small supplier, big mess: Jackson pays the price of auto industry pollution
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.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
5 fixes for Michigan's polluted industrial legacy, and a cleaner future
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.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Gov. Whitmer’s SOAR incentive fund, once a triumph, now faces headwinds
There is growing concern among Democrats and Republicans about what they view as one-sided corporate giveaways in the rush to attract EV investment to Michigan. Lawmakers from both sides say they are now pushing for change.
Posted inBusiness Watch
Michigan developers find new uses for contaminated industrial sites
Older, abandoned factories are often located near what businesses seek today: highways, rail, full utilities and access to workers. Investing in tainted sites carries financial risk and higher costs, but there are also rewards.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
How fast should Michigan ditch fossil fuels? Lawmakers debate 2040 deadline
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.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
End of the line for Flint criminal charges: Supreme Court declines AG’s appeal
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.