Court says advocates can intervene to hold Southeast Michigan polluter directly accountable

A district court ruled to allow an environmental group and community members to intervene in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) federal lawsuit against EES Coke.

SW Detroit residents and Sierra Club want the Zug Island emitter to restore and invest in clean air

Agreement between Sierra Club and DTE Energy will provide $2.7 million for projects to improve communities in River Rouge, Ecorse, and Detroit

After decades of pollution, a community that faced unprecedented actions by the Trump DOJ claims victory for their health and environment.

Shannon Fisk, Managing Attorney, Coal Program, Earthjustice: "The ability of front-line communities to fully pursue the rights and protections promised by the federal Clean Air Act is critical to advancing environmental justice, and EPA’s decision enables us to now focus fully on ensuring that the agreement with DTE brings meaningful relief to the River Rouge,…

When the Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, the law allowed many existing coal plants, oil refineries and other facilities to continue running without having to install the best available pollution controls required for new facilities. The theory was that these aging facilities would shut down quickly in favor of new, modern plants. If…

Trump administration blocked from interfering in agreement that would provide funding for electric buses, environmental projects in communities burdened by decades of air pollution

The U.S. wrongly argues that the Agreement must undergo judicial review even though neither DTE nor Sierra Club is asking the Court to enforce, or otherwise maintain jurisdiction over, the private contract reflected therein.

El Departamento de Justicia se opone a un acuerdo para proporcionar millones de dólares en beneficios de salud pública a las comunidades locales.

Trump administration urges federal court to reject agreement that would provide funding for electric buses, environmental projects in communities burdened by decades of air pollution

Pursuant to ¶ 121 of the proposed Consent Decree that was lodged with the Court on May 14, 2020, ECF No. 266-1, Sierra Club hereby submits for entry the Separate Agreement between it and Defendants DTE Energy Company and Detroit Edison Company (collectively “DTE”), which is attached as Exhibit 1. The Separate Agreement provides additional air quality and public health benefits to communities in Southeast Michigan that have been heavily impacted by pollution from DTE power plants and other industrial sources.

The provisions of this Agreement shall apply to and be binding upon the Sierra Club and upon Detroit Edison and their respective successors, assigns, or other entities or persons otherwise bound by law. This Agreement may be assigned by Detroit Edison to another entity in connection with the sale or transfer of the River Rouge, Trenton Channel, or St. Clair power plants, and Detroit Edison shall be relieved of its obligations hereunder with respect to River Rouge, Trenton Channel, or St. Clair power plants if any of those plants are sold, transferred, or assigned, on and after such sale, transfer, or assignment provided that the purchaser, transferee, or assignee executes an assignment agreement as a condition of the sale, tran sfer, or assignment and agrees in writing to be bound by and liable for all of Detroit Edison’s requirements in this Agreement being assumed. This Agreement is not assignable by the Sierra Club.

Detroit-area coal plants slated for retirement while communities burdened by years of air pollution to receive funding for electric buses and other environmental projects

Michigan’s Public Service Commission chooses DTE’s gas plant over more affordable clean energy options

Pruitt EPA adopts DTE’s rejected arguments anyway