In 2018 the City of Ann Arbor created the Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI). OSI brought forward and refocused efforts that had previously been outlined in the City’s Sustainability Framework to develop one of the nation’s most aggressive climate action plans: A2ZERO. Adopted unanimously by City Council in June of 2020, A2ZERO charts a path to achieving a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by the year 2030. There are many facets to this work, including assisting the community with opportunities for electrification, improving energy efficiency, and focusing on renewable, reliable and affordable energy. These efforts have been supported by residents through the passing of a Community Climate Action Millage in 2022 and again in November of 2024, when residents overwhelmingly voted to authorize the creation of a new, supplemental, Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU). The Ann Arbor Sustainable Energy Utility is an opt-in, supplemental, community-owned energy utility that provides 100% renewable energy from local solar and battery storage systems, networked geothermal, and small-scale microgrids installed at participating homes, businesses, and institutions in the City (collectively, the “Services”). Now authorized, the detailed final planning and design work is officially underway for the SEU to start providing Services within 12 to 18 months.
As part of its planning and foundation setting work, the City is looking to hire a qualified firm to serve as a strategic advisor on the SEU business/finance plan (which must comply with cost of service principles) and help develop the SEU’s tariff and rate structure for various product offerings. The work is anticipated to proceed in 3 phases and 8 key workstreams, all to be executed in close collaboration with City staff, legal counsel, and technical and other advisors.
