Before the break of dawn on Friday, the Trenton Channel Power Plant's famed "Candy Canes" stacks were reduced to rubble. The controlled demolition used 500 pounds of dynamite per stack, creating a spectacle that drew roughly 200 onlookers despite early hour and precautionary road closures. The detonation, which could be heard as far away as Grosse Ile Parkway and West Jefferson, lasted less than a minute, permanently altering the local skyline and anchoring Trenton's shift away from coal power.

The two 600-foot stacks, which stood as beacons along the Detroit River for nearly a century, had become distinguishing features of the region. While some locals lamented their loss as familiar landmarks used to gauge homecomings from distant travels, others welcomed the end an structure they regarded as an eyesore. According to Detroit Free Press, DTE Energy has not only cleared the land but also intends to repurpose it, although specific plans have yet to be announced.

As part of its commitment to environmental conscience and safety, DTE Energy had preemptively removed any volatile materials from the site, ensuring compliance with both state and federal guidelines. "Hazardous materials have been properly disposed of according to state and federal regulations and have been verified by a third party — the state of Michigan licensed inspector," hoodline reported. Additionally, the utility company deployed stringent measures including seismic monitoring and dust control misters to mitigate the demolition's impact.

Despite the structure's longstanding presence and its disappearance marking the end an industrial era, the move paves the way for potentially cleaner energy solutions. Michael Banks, director of Major Projects for DTE Energy, emphasized the demolition's precision by saying, "It went exactly as we expected," as reported by The Detroit News. The next phase involves dismantling the remaining boiler house, scheduled for May or June, as part of the comprehensive site redevelopment plan.

The transition away from coal is aligned with DTE's overarching strategy to adjust to a changing energy landscape that increasingly values sustainability. DTE, along with Consumers Energy, have been shifting their focus on generating power through natural gas, wind, solar, and nuclear, in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change effects. The demolition of the Trenton plant, along with the previous closure of the St. Clair plant, contributes to DTE's goal of transforming Southeast Michigan's power sources to ones with lesser environmental footprints.