Ann Arbor Voters Approve Sustainable Energy Utility; Nearly 80% Vote ‘Yes’ on Prop A

“The SEU is a significant step in the right direction,” says Ann Arbor for Public Power President Greg Woodring, “We also know that it will not be enough to reach the city’s 2030 renewable energy goals, or to address our chronically unreliable power grid.” Replacing DTE with a publicly-owned electric utility is the only way for Ann Arbor to succeed in its A2Zero climate goals. “This mandate from city voters energizes our mission to dump DTE entirely. We plan to do everything in our power to ensure the SEU is implemented equitably and effectively, knowing that it does not go nearly as far as the current climate crisis demands.”

According to the 2023 “Renewable Energy Options” report commissioned by the city, the SEU has the potential to produce 10% of Ann Arbor’s power by 2035. In order for the city to begin ordering the renewable energy infrastructure that would comprise much of the Sustainable Energy Utility, there needs to be 20 MW of energy demand from interested members of the public, equivalent to about 16,000 average U.S. homes. According to the director of the city’s Office of Sustainability and Innovation, Missy Stults, “about 200” households are on the SEU waitlist so far.