News and Press Releases

Frequent power outages in Ann Arbor, many lasting for several days, have sparked frustration and talks of a municipal electric utility within the community.

Some Metro Detroit residents are still without power following a powerful storm that swept through the region last week. Power outages can cost residents hundreds to thousands of dollars of food loss and can also have a deep impact on small businesses.

Community organizer Bridget Vial and energy analyst Paula Garcia discuss how some states can reach an equitable transition to 100% clean energy by 2035.

In the aftermath of power outages that affected hundreds of thousands of people in February and March this year, many Michiganders are scrutinizing the state’s largest investor-owned utilities: DTE and Consumers Energy.

After tens of thousands of Ann Arbor-area residents lost electricity this past week, many for multiple days, the campaign for public power is picking up again.

In the wake of recent power outages affecting parts of Michigan, communities in the state recently took steps to explore the option of municipalization.

Residents who lost power after the ice storm in Washtenaw County gathered to voice their frustration at the Pittsfield Township Library Sunday. Officials with the organization “Ann Arbor for Public Power” were listening and offered a new approach to utility service.

Ann Arbor City Council approved a study exploring the feasibility of a publicly-owned power utility in a 10-1 vote on Tuesday evening. The city will contract with NewGen Strategies and Solutions and 5 Lakes Energy to conduct the study as well as an energy options analysis.

Ann Arbor City Council met at Larcom City Hall on Tuesday night to approve DS1, a resolution to hire two companies to analyze energy options formaking the city’s energy source 100% renewable.

"Climate activists with Ann Arbor for Public Power, a grassroots organization that advocates for the city to adopt their own energy utility, gathered outside City Hall on Tuesday, July 5 to boycott the appointment of a DTE official to the Energy Commission."

Despite our city’s alleged commitment to climate action, it was recently announced that a representative from DTE (the utility monopoly that sells power to Southeastern Michigan) was nominated to become a voting member of the Ann Arbor Energy Commission (AAEC). City commissions advise City Council on new laws and generally have significant influence on city policy.