From the January-February 2022 issue of News & Letters

Detroit—The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy said it intends to assess a fine and implement a “compliance plan” for Stellantis Jeep, which manufactures the Jeep Grand Cherokee at its Mack assembly plant. Residents have reported symptoms including “burning eyes, nausea, persistent coughing, tightening of the chest, difficulty breathing, headaches, migraines and skin conditions.” Since July, 54 environmental violations have been issued.

Stellantis, formerly Fiat Chrysler before merging with Peugeot, practices environmental racism by offsetting increased emissions at the Mack plant in a Black Detroit neighborhood with lower emissions at its Warren Truck Assembly plant in suburban Macomb County.

The company admits that the new plant “emits more emissions than the former Mack engine plant” but that: “Under state law, such an increase in emissions at our new assembly plant…is required—not ‘allowed’—to be offset by reductions at a different location in southeast Michigan.”

Offsetting industrial emissions has no effect on combating climate change; it only trades the health of one neighborhood for another.

—Environmentalist