New Michigan data center plans are on the verge of triggering an “offramp” in the state’s nation-leading climate laws that would effectively halt the shift to renewables less than two years after the plans were approved.By Tom PerkinsThe “offramp” provision in Michigan’s 2023 climate and clean energy laws allows utilities to keep running or building fossil fuel plants if renewable sources cannot handle the energy grid’s load. Now, newly proposed data centers could cause the offramp to be triggered, as DTE Energy executives say they are working on plans to power those centers and may need to build a new gas plant.
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: August 18, 2025 04:13 PM
Atmospheric CO₂
425.4 ppm
+18.4
ppm/year
Atmospheric CH₄
1934.91 ppb
+9.11
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 °C
Peak: +1.73°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year