Summer storms are not a new phenomenon, but all too often, severe weather has inflicted significant impacts on Detroit. Flooding has posed major problems for both local freeways and the homes of Detroit residents, sparking concerns about climate change and infrastructure.
Intense rain, floods, and sewer backups have resulted in hundreds of thousands of residents across the state losing power. The state government is now taking action to position itself as a national clean energy leader with a focus on safeguarding the air and lakes for future generations.
“Water doesn’t belong in someone’s basement, it doesn’t belong in your yard, and it certainly doesn’t belong on the roads, causing freeway flooding,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist.
“That means we must make sure we are making the investments in our infrastructure to prevent that from happening. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and I made historic investments in our water management infrastructure, water and sewage system to shore up these systems to make sure they don’t fail. This was all to make sure that our pumps have enough power on the freeways in Detroit and even though we have some areas from the latest storms, we’re still going to make these investments.”
He added, “Our goal is to ensure that our pumps have enough power to prevent freeway flooding in Detroit. Despite the recent storms, we remain committed to making these crucial investments.”
Lt. Governor Gilchrist noted that the state’s administration is leveraging federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act to provide more resources to households impacted by severe storms.
However, the administration also recognizes that, despite efforts to address climate change and infrastructure investments, there’s a need for candid discussions regarding widespread and persistent power outages.
“In our conversations with utility companies, the focus is on accountability,” stated Gilchrist. “People expect for their power to be on. We know that storms happen, but we also know that we can design and engineer for things. The governor and I have worked with these utility companies to ensure they are using the resources from the state and federal government as well as what they put in from their own private dollars to invest more in these resources.”
Metro Detroit has been particularly hard-hit by severe weather in recent weeks, following a decade marked by flooding, dam failures, high water levels, erosion causing damage to public and private property, and major crop failures resulting from unusual spring temperatures, plus three polar vortexes.
According to a recent report from the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council, these actions, along with federal clean energy investments from the Inflation Reduction Act, are projected to save families $5.5 billion in household energy costs by 2050, create 160,000 jobs, and bring $14.7 billion in federal funding to Michigan.
Despite a decade of unpredictable weather patterns, Michigan is positioning itself as a haven for those seeking access to safe and clean water and air.
The Whitmer/Gilchrist administration is actively pursuing efforts to confront climate change head-on while simultaneously nurturing economic growth. At present, the administration places a premium on crafting policies that safeguard the state’s natural resources, increase the availability of affordable and reliable energy, and promote cleaner energy sources.