Author Archives: natashad643c20eef

On Thursday, August 7th, Michigan Environmental Council, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Sierra Club (collectively MNS) submitted an opening brief to the Michigan Court of Appeals in an appeal of the Michigan Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) decision approving special contracts between DTE Electric Company and a data center being developed by Oracle and OpenAI.Continue reading “Environmental Organizations Appeal to Overturn Data Center Contracts”

An administrative law judge recommended a major cut in the return on equity approved for Consumers Energy in its most recent electric rate case. However, the Michigan Public Service Commission rejected that recommendation. Return on equity, or ROE, plays a big part in increasing customers’ utility bills. The Citizens Utility Board of Michigan has appealedContinue reading “CUB appeals Consumers Energy rate hike”

Michigan is currently experiencing a boom in data center developments after a tax incentive was approved by lawmakers in 2024. Since then, there have been at least 17 proposals for projects. One project that has drawn the attention of the Michigan Attorney General and the public is a massive data center in Saline Township. TheContinue reading “Transparency Concerns Surround Proposed Saline Township Data Center Review”

After years of widespread public engagement, the Ohio legislature has finally passed HB15, which includes the long-overdue repeal of the OVEC coal plant bailout. For years, Ohioans subsidized two aging, unprofitable coal plants—Kyger Creek in Ohio and Clifty Creek in Indiana—paying nearly $500,000 a day, totaling over $467 million. The bailout originated years ago throughContinue reading “Sierra Club Responds to Ohio Legislature Closing Long-Running Chapter on Coal Bailout”

Indiana Michigan Power Company, or I&M, has made headlines in the recent weeks for its support of maintaining two of the oldest coal plants without retirement dates, Clifty Creek and Kyger Creek. Both of these plants are owned by an I&M parent company, American Electric Power (AEP), known as the Ohio Valley Electric Corp (OVEC).Continue reading “Understanding I&M’s Coal Plant Use and The Effect on Energy Prices”

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approved on Thursday a $113.8 million rate increase for DTE Gas Company, rather than the $266 million hike originally asked for. This will affect the average customer by a $2 monthly increase on their utility bill. Along with the rate hike, the MPSC also approved a capped version ofContinue reading “MPSC Issues Precedent-Setting Decision in DTE Gas Rate Case”