Ann Arbor ballot proposal promises affordable access to renewable energy

Ann Arbor's proposed sustainable energy utility could save residents and commercial customers money on their electricity bills, according to a new report commissioned by the city.

Ann Arbor residents will vote in November on whether to establish an optional public utility that would use exclusively renewable energy generated by local systems. The project is part of the city’s A2Zero program, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2030.

If the proposal passes, it will be the first sustainable energy utility in Michigan. Similar utilities have operated in Delaware since 2007 and Washington D.C. since 2011.

The report calculated cost savings based on how much money it will cost the city to set up the utility and how many customers participate in the utility. Estimates are for 2028 and 2038 to account for the time it will take to get the utility up and running.





https://www.michiganpublic.org/environment-climate-change/2024-07-22/ann-arbor-ballot-proposal-promises-affordable-access-to-renewable-energy