Michigan’s dam dilemma: Who pays for safety?
A crumbling dam in AuTrain Township is putting local businesses, homes, and even a major road at risk, all because private owners haven’t made long-overdue repairs. Despite years of warnings and past disasters, neither federal nor state regulators have forced upgrades, and now the dam’s owner says they can’t afford the $4 million fix. If the dam fails, it could devastate tourism, flood homes, and disrupt daily life. With more hydroelectric dams possibly being sold to private hands, the big question is: Should critical infrastructure like dams be privately owned, or is it time for public control? What’s the best way forward for Michigan’s communities?
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