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Battle Creek Enquirer reports on Enbridge's buying homes near 2010 oil spill

WMUK

    

After an oil spill on the Kalamazoo River in 2010, Enbridge Energy offered to buy homes in the area within 200 feet of the river. 

Battle Creek Enquirer reporter Jennifer Bowman finds that has worked out well for some homeowners, but there are still some hard feelings. 

Enbridge bought 154 properties in the year after the spill. Some people were able to buy new homes with money from the sale of their house. Even one resident just outside the area where Enbridge offered to buy homes says Enbridge "stepped up and did what they should have done."

But one realtor says Enbridge did a disservice to people who lived near the river, but not close enough to have their home bought. Matt Davis also says the company could work more with realtors to find buyers for homes that still haven't been sold. 

Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.