Candidates split on municipalization as a route to cleaner power

Forum question: whether Ann Arbor should rely on the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) opt‑in model or move toward a full municipal electric utility.

Ryan Bartholomew said the SEU was a useful first step but argued municipal ownership offers a faster path to 100% renewable electricity and would remove corporate influence from the city’s energy decisions. He cited other Michigan cities that operate public utilities and said municipalization could reduce overall rates and create funds for local improvements.

Ashley Hall said she supports the SEU and praised its Bryant neighborhood pilot and the Pittsfield rollout; she raised concerns about the cost and governance of city takeover. Hall said any municipalization process should explain who pays and should include elected governance rather than a largely appointed board.

Neither candidate provided a detailed municipalization cost estimate at the forum; proponents and opponents outside the forum may publish feasibility analyses and cost projections that will be necessary for voters and council members to evaluate the tradeoffs.