Title
Resolution to Encourage DTE to Develop a Process for Burying Power Lines, Investing in Energy Infrastructure, and Improving Grid Reliability and Resilience
Body
Whereas, DTE's electric grid has repeatedly proven to be highly susceptible to severe weather events;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has already experienced at least three severe weather events in 2023, on February 22, March 3, and July 26, resulting in widespread DTE grid failures and multi-day power outages in Ann Arbor and surrounding communities;
Whereas, A small-scale Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) case study from Beadle County, South Dakota in 1996 determined that burying the studied power line in a severe weather area "proved to be a good investment," concluding that the underground line "would have paid for itself in just two damaging weather events.";
Whereas, The FEMA case study noted that after the studied power line was buried, "storms continued with events that were severe enough to result in presidential disaster declarations for Beadle County in 2001, 2005, and 2007. But with the power lines buried four feet below the ground, neither these events nor others caused significant damage to the lines" and "a tornado in August 2006 resulted in no damage or disruption of service.";
Whereas, The FEMA case study also noted that, "the cumulative cost of replacing [the power line] after each storm would have been far greater than the cost of burying it once.";
Whereas, Another FEMA case study noted that for an Independence, Missouri municipal utility company - Independence Power and Light (IPL) - "removing power lines from utility poles and burying them underground is not just a matter of aesthetics; it's also good business," and "through mitigation grants, Independence Power and Light (IPL) buried power lines from distribution line poles to residential structures, proving that this tactic enhances power reliability, reduces property loss, and lessens risk to hu...
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