Brian Allnutt

Environmental reporter. @PlanetDetroit @CityLab @CivilEats @detroitnews [email protected]

[Brian Allnutt @AllnuttBrian]

A year after an ice storm cut off power to 700k Michiganders, many see little progress on holding utilities accountable for poor reliability. Some lawmakers say utilities' political spending is standing in the way. @PlanetDetroit https://t.co/1aBO5L834p

[Planet Detroit @PlanetDetroit]

The legal battle over the elevated radiation waste began in 2024 after it was revealed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planned to transport waste from the Niagara Falls Storage Site to Wayne Disposal.
https://t.co/s05B9PIEW5

[Brian Allnutt @AllnuttBrian]

Blue Cross has blocked legislation that could save Michiganders hundreds or thousands of dollars a year, state lawmaker says. @PlanetDetroit

https://t.co/l1GJSxJTXl

[Planet Detroit @PlanetDetroit]

The Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority approves a 12-month moratorium on supplying water to data centers, blocking service to facilities including a planned $1.2-billion University of Michigan project.
Read more: https://t.co/qH0ohBuB1D

[Planet Detroit @PlanetDetroit]

Residents in Detroit, Ann Arbor, and four other Michigan cities will rally this weekend against data center projects, connect their opposition to a ballot initiative that would ban utility political donations. https://t.co/zMzXKmKn91 #datacenters

[Planet Detroit @PlanetDetroit]

Data center proposals in Washtenaw County force local officials to weigh in on massive developments that could bring significant local tax revenue — and transform rural landscapes. https://t.co/xE0QmAwVQ5

[Planet Detroit @PlanetDetroit]

The Saline Township board denied the rezoning of farmland for a data center project after an outpouring of resident concerns over noise, traffic, and environmental impact. https://t.co/pWyTG7MNBv

[Planet Detroit @PlanetDetroit]

Ypsilanti Township officials say they distrust the university, adopt resolution to relocate data center project: https://t.co/3wQ2sqrKRM

[Planet Detroit @PlanetDetroit]

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers will consider a ballot initiative Friday that aims to ban political spending by DTE Energy and Consumers Energy: https://t.co/A5YDteghpQ

[Planet Detroit @PlanetDetroit]

Augusta Township residents are gathering signatures to challenge a rezoning decision for a planned $1 billion data center. https://t.co/b4hihwsOuR

[Planet Detroit @PlanetDetroit]

Runoff from Wayne Disposal, if not fully contained and treated onsite, could flow into county drains and bodies of water like Belleville Lake, says Wayne County circuit judge. https://t.co/MLSX8ToqCz

[Planet Detroit @PlanetDetroit]

Whitmer praises new MPSC appointee Shaquila Myers’ work on clean energy legislation, but ratepayer advocates say they fear utilities influenced governor’s decision. https://t.co/j7IUYJsXxR

[Energy and Policy Institute @EnergyandPolicy]

Critical support in the form of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is now in jeopardy as electricity and gas costs outpace inflation and utilities continue to seek rate hikes. New from @AllnuttBrian in @PlanetDetroit. https://t.co/3GzVed7yfS

[Brian Allnutt @AllnuttBrian]

As DTE helps drive the climate crisis with ongoing investments in fossil fuels, ratepayers pay more to cool their homes and help the utility recover from weather disasters. Meanwhile, DTE profits are surging along with shutoffs for nonpayment.
https://t.co/YephauJbiW

[Paul Gross @GrossWeather]

Same thing happened in the eastern U.S. during the infamous “Polar Vortex winter of 2013-14.” I always say in my global warming lectures that what’s happening in “your backyard” isn’t necessarily what’s happening to the rest of the world, and this is yet another perfect example.

[Boniface Billy @signifyingwolf]

https://t.co/E4Ug9s40ut

[Tom Perkins @PomTerkins]

My investigation found big oil fiercely lobbied last year to kill a Cal “polluter pay” bill that would’ve forced them to cover costs of climate change catastrophes, like that unfolding https://t.co/4yjoWm2VL0

[Karlee Weinmann @karleeweinmann]

DTE Energy has told its shareholders for months that a data center incentive bill would pass in Michigan, over the objections of climate and consumer advocates. The utility has also been doling out cash to key lawmakers.

Good rundown from @AllnuttBrian: https://t.co/tcsCmVu37M

[Beth LeBlanc @DNBethLeBlanc]

State Rep. Jaime Churches, D-Wyandotte, in goodbye speech warns that both parties need to ensure they're accountable to the people alone.

"Corporate greed whispers in the hallways," Churches said, and corruption works not as a flaw in the system, but as a feature.

[Brian Allnutt @AllnuttBrian]

EPI says the process "exacerbates the risk that customers’ utility bills will include at least some such costs." Advocates say a simpler approach would be disallowing all charges for things like advertising or membership dues in trade organizations.

[Brian Allnutt @AllnuttBrian]

A new report from @EnergyandPolicy shows how utilities like DTE can hide lobbying, advertising and travel expenses in rate hike requests. @PlanetDetroit
https://t.co/tzGmFs46Yw

[Brian Allnutt @AllnuttBrian]

Advocates and regulators have to dig through rate hike requests to find inappropriate expenses like DTE's request for $236k for private jet travel. But deciphering whether employee salaries or trade organization dues are supporting utility lobbying can be an impossible task.