Monroe Power Plant Monroe Power Plant is one of the largest coal-fired power plants in the United States, located on the western shore of Lake Erie in Monroe, Michigan. Operated by DTE Energy, the four-unit facility has a generating capacity of over 3,000 megawatts.
Last verified: 2026-03-09Monroe Power Plant's four units were constructed between 1971 and 1974 by Detroit Edison (now DTE Energy). At the time of construction, it was the largest coal-fired power plant in the world. Asbestos-containing materials were used extensively throughout the massive facility, which required enormous quantities of insulation for its boilers, turbines, and miles of steam piping. The plant has employed thousands of workers over its more than five decades of operation.
Workers at Monroe Power Plant encountered asbestos in boiler insulation, pipe lagging, turbine wrapping, gaskets, and valve packing throughout the facility's four generating units. The sheer scale of the plant—one of the largest in the country—meant that maintenance required large crews and frequent insulation work. Workers performing maintenance inside the boiler units during scheduled outages faced the most intense exposure as they removed and replaced deteriorated asbestos materials.
The following job categories at Monroe Power Plant had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:
Former Monroe Power Plant workers have developed mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos-related lung cancer. Michigan's industrial history has produced significant numbers of asbestos-related disease cases, and Monroe is among the power plants linked to worker illness. Both DTE employees and contract workers who served during outage maintenance are at risk.
Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.
Workers exposed to asbestos at Monroe Power Plant may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.
3 asbestos trust funds have been identified as potentially related to exposure at this site. Many mesothelioma patients qualify to file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously.
Find Out If You QualifyWorkers who were employed at Monroe Power Plant between 1970s–1980s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.
Workers exposed to asbestos at Monroe Power Plant may be eligible to file claims with the following trust funds:
If you were exposed to asbestos at Monroe Power Plant and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, these specialized treatment centers in Michigan may be able to help.
Yes. Monroe Power Plant was constructed in the early 1970s using extensive asbestos-containing materials in boiler insulation, pipe insulation, turbine wrapping, gaskets, and valve packing throughout all four generating units.
Boiler operators, pipe fitters, insulators, and maintenance workers faced the highest exposure levels, especially those who worked during scheduled outages when large quantities of asbestos insulation were removed and replaced.
Yes. Workers diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases after working at Monroe Power Plant may be eligible for compensation through asbestos trust funds and legal claims against the manufacturers of asbestos products used at the facility.
If you or a loved one worked at Monroe Power Plant and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, our attorneys can help you explore your legal options. There is no cost, no pressure, and no obligation.
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