Historic Trenton power plant set to be demolished — and residents might feel, hear it - Detroit Free Press

Historic Trenton power plant set to be demolished, residents warned

Historic Trenton power plant set to be demolished — and residents might feel, hear it
Frank Witsil

The Trenton Channel power plant, which was nearly 100 years old when it was idled in 2022, is slated to be razed to allow the site to be redeveloped.

The demo dates for the old coal-fired facility, known as the Trenton Stacks, have been set for March 1 and May 17, the utility said this week. Depending on the weather, those dates may change, but residents should be prepared whenever the demolition goes off to hear — and feel — the blasts.

In the meantime, DTE is holding a virtual town hall at 6 p.m. Feb. 22 to go over its plans and allow Michigan residents to raise questions and concerns. The power company said a recording of the meeting will be available for those unable to attend.

Michiganders have long relied on coal for their electricity, but both the Detroit-based DTE and Jackson-based Consumers Energy have sought to move toward natural gas and other sources for power generation to reduce carbon emissions.

In 2022, DTE announced the retirement of the Trenton Stacks, as well as a coal power plant in St. Clair, trumpeting it as a part of its effort to bring southeast Michigan closer to “a carbon-free future” with affordable and reliable energy.

At the time, the company said about a third of the electricity it generated was from carbon-free sources, including wind, solar and nuclear energy.

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Just before the demolitions, DTE said vehicle and pedestrian traffic would be briefly stopped on nearby Grosse Ile Parkway and West Jefferson Avenue. No other major road closures are planned, and no power interruptions are anticipated.

When the explosions go off, Downriver residents should expect to hear a series of booms, like thunder, lasting less than a minute. There likely will be some ground vibrations, too, and a big cloud of dust, which should dissipate quickly.

But there's no need to worry about hazardous materials, the utility said. Any such materials already have been properly disposed of following state and federal regulations, and the disposal has been verified by a third-party, Michigan-licensed inspector.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com