Fix the Grid

Michigan’s average power restoration time is over 8 hours–the fourth worst in the country. That’s unacceptable. Utility companies continue to raise rates, but they fail time and time again when it comes to reliability and restoration speed. 

The problems contributing to slower power restoration include too many above-ground powerlines, an aging grid, poor vegetation management, and underinvestment. We can power up Michigan by evaluating the performance of our utility companies in addressing these issues. If the companies are not performing up to standards, Michiganders should receive rebates. On the other hand, if the companies exceed expectations, they should be rewarded with increased return on equity.

Energy Abundance

Michiganders pay more than the national average for residential and commercial use per kilowatt hour, despite the fact that our incomes lag the country. This means Michiganders have to spend higher shares of their incomes on utility bills. 

If we want to keep Michiganders here with good-paying 21st-century careers in industries like advanced manufacturing, aerospace engineering, and digital infrastructure, then we need more energy to simultaneously supply these industries and keep up with residential demand.

We can expand the supply of energy by growing the hydrogen economy, reviving existing nuclear plants, creating small modular reactors, incentivizing individualized solar generation, embracing agrivoltaics, and investing in enhanced geothermal systems.

Build Roads Made to Last

For decades, politicians have promised to fix the roads. During election season, potholes miraculously get filled. Orange barrels go up. But does anything fundamentally change? 

In a state with freezing and thawing, high weight limits on trucks, and increasingly common severe storms, we should spend now to save later. If we want Michigan roads to last more than a few years, we must be willing to invest. In the short term, this will cost extra. But in the long term, we will save money with lower needs for constant vehicle and road repairs. 

We must invest in preventative maintenance. Because Michigan’s infrastructure is underfunded, the existing budget does not provide enough to cover preventative maintenance alongside necessary repairs. We are slowly falling behind a growing backlog. With a temporary funding surge, we can break the cycle by fixing existing damage and preventing future damage.