Renner Barsella, renner.barsella@sierraclub.org
DETROIT, MI. -- Last week, an investigation by the Guardian revealed that the Unlock Michigan campaign–which aimed to repeal state COVID policies supporting families in a time of crisis–received significant funding from DTE Energy. Under the emergency orders enacted by Governor Gretchen Whitmer, DTE had been required to honor a shut off moratorium so that households could continue to have safe access to utility service even if they were unable to pay bills. After the successful repreal of those protections, DTE promptly cut power to hundreds of thousands of homes. Dark money linked to DTE was also identified in attempts to influence climate policy in California. The revelation that DTE funded the effort to repeal shutoff moratoriums has led to increasing calls for utility accountability across the country.
In response Christy McGillivray, Political and Legislative Director for Sierra Club’s Michigan Chapter released the following statement:
“Only three months into the pandemic, DTE resumed shutting off customers behind on their bills at record pace. They’re wasting millions of dollars on public greenwashing and buying off politicians, while putting their customers in the dark and sabotaging Governor’s Whitmer’s power to protect Michiganders. The Michigan Public Service Commissioners and other public officials must use their authority to hold DTE accountable for this hypocritical combination of injustices.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.