Brian Allnutt

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 planetdetroit.org/2024/03/dte-po…

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. planetdetroit.org/2025/09/washte…

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. planetdetroit.org/2025/09/saline…

Ypsilanti Township officials say they distrust the university, adopt resolution to relocate data center project: planetdetroit.org/2025/08/townsh…

The Michigan Board of State Canvassers will consider a ballot initiative Friday that aims to ban political spending by DTE Energy and Consumers Energy: planetdetroit.org/2025/08/ballot…

Augusta Township residents are gathering signatures to challenge a rezoning decision for a planned $1 billion data center. planetdetroit.org/2025/08/august…

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. planetdetroit.org/2025/08/wayne-…

Whitmer praises new MPSC appointee Shaquila Myers’ work on clean energy legislation, but ratepayer advocates say they fear utilities influenced governor’s decision. planetdetroit.org/2025/07/whitme…

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. planetdetroit.org/2025/07/great-…

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. planetdetroit.org/2025/02/dte-en…

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.

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 theguardian.com/us-news/2025/j…

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: planetdetroit.org/2024/12/michig…

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.

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.

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.

A new report from @EnergyandPolicy shows how utilities like DTE can hide lobbying, advertising and travel expenses in rate hike requests. @PlanetDetroit planetdetroit.org/2024/12/dte-ra…

This follows a whistleblower complaint from Nov. alleging Michigan regulators 'aided and abetted' BASF's pollution, which includes discharging PFAS, mercury, arsenic and other chemicals into the river near Wyandotte's drinking water intake. planetdetroit.org/2024/11/compla…

EPA tells @PlanetDetroit that BASF's ongoing pollution at its Wyandotte facility could delay Detroit River cleanup. Michigan is trying to get hundreds of millions from the feds to do this, but its 40-year failure to rein in BASF could stand in the way. planetdetroit.org/2024/12/detroi…

New poll shows a majority of Trump voters want to protect the EPA. But former agency officials say the incoming administration has a "novel plan" for shrinking the agency without congressional approval. @PlanetDetroit planetdetroit.org/2024/11/trump-…