DTE Cutting Pollution From Monroe Plant ANN ARBOR, MI (Michigan Radio) -

DTE Energy, Michigan's largest coal-fired power plant, is taking steps to reduce air pollution.

The plant says it will invest six hundred million dollars over the next five years to install technology that almost eliminates sulfur dioxide emissions.

Sulfur dioxide in the air can cause respiratory problems and contributes to acid rain. Shelly Vinyard is with the activist group Environment Michigan. She applauds DTE's move to reduce emissions, but says, "The Monroe coal-fired power plant is still one of the largest carbon dioxide emitters in the country, and we need to take actions to make sure that we're not pumping as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as we are right now."

A recent report by Environment Michigan found that, out of all the coal-fired plants in the country, DTE is the seventh largest emitter of carbon dioxide. DTE managers say the plant is cleaner than many other utilities, but emits more pollution because of its size. © Copyright 2010, Michigan Radio