Stabenow, Peters Applaud $200,000 Brownfield Grant for DTE Energy Rouge River Plant

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters applauded an announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority will receive a $200,000 Brownfield Grant to fund a cleanup and redevelopment plan for DTE Energy Rouge River Power Plant in downtown River Rouge.

“I commend the many partners involved in this project,” said Senator Stabenow.  “This effort is critically important to the health and safety of local residents and economic growth of the community.”

“I applaud this grant, which will help attract private investment in the community, stimulate the economy with new jobs and improve the health of River Rouge residents with cleaner air and water,” said Senator Peters.

EPA’s Brownfields Program provides grants and technical assistance to communities, states, tribes and others to assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse contaminated properties that may have hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants present. To facilitate the leveraging of public resources, EPA's Brownfields Program collaborates with other EPA programs, other federal partners, and state agencies to identify and make available resources that can be used to address Brownfields.

Plans for the DTE Rouge River Power Plant call for incorporating the power plant and other sites into the proposed Gordie Howe International Bridge project that will span the Detroit River and connect the Detroit area to Canada. Redevelopment is expected to create jobs and job-training opportunities for local residents and to improve health and environmental conditions in the community.

The Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority is partnering with the Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority, Sierra Club–Southeast Michigan Group, University of Michigan, Southeast Michigan Community Alliance, Ultimate New Beginnings, city of River Rouge, Detroit City Council, Michigan Economic Development Corp., Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, and Downriver Community Conference.

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