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.
Michigan Environment Watch
Michigan Environment Watch examines how public policy, industry, and other factors interact with the state’s trove of natural resources.
Great Lakes News Collaborative
Bridge Michigan, Circle of Blue, Great Lakes Now at Detroit Public Television, The Narwhal and Michigan Public work together to report on the most pressing threats to the Great Lakes region’s water. This independent journalism is supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. You can find all of the collaborative’s stories here.
Shockwave
The Great Lakes region is in the midst of a seismic energy shakeup, from skyrocketing data center demand and a nuclear energy boom, to expanding renewables and electrification. In 2026, the Great Lakes News Collaborative will explore how shifting supply and demand affect the region and its waters. Read the series here.
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 inMichigan Environment Watch
Michigan DNR warns residents to squish invasive lanternflies
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.
Posted inMichigan Environment Watch
Dark sky parks: How Michigan is becoming a stargazing state
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.
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
Michigan fall colors 2023: Peak colors may be late. Blame El Niño
Fall colors may be slightly delayed in Michigan this year because of warmer weather patterns.
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.