DETROIT — Detroit's city council voted Tuesday unanimously to direct the city's Legislative Policy Division to research how other cities have diversified their energy sources and improved energy infrastructure.
The vote comes after a tornado devastated the east side last week, leaving thousands of Detroit residents without power for days.
Watch Megan Lee's report here:
Councilmember Coleman Young II, who serves as President Pro Tem and At-Large Councilmember, was among those who lost power.
"Citizens' lives were at risk, people without power for 2-3 days," Young said.
Young said the vote signals the council's commitment to residents.
"This vote means that we care about our citizens and we want to do right by them," Young said.
He said the council is now open to a broader conversation about what powers the city.
"We should look at more alternative energy. Whether it's green energy, wind, solar, geothermal, things of that nature, alternative energy," Young said.
Young said he appreciates the work DTE did to restore power but wants to see long-term improvements.
"We just need to encourage DTE to be able to build the infrastructure we need and if they're going to ask the citizens for more rates, they need to make sure the power is more consistent and stays on," Young said.
District 6 Councilmember Gabriela Santiago-Romero echoed frustrations over the cost of service.
"We pay so much, and we're getting very little. Quite frankly, I feel like we're being robbed," Santiago-Romero said.
DTE Energy released an updated statement to 7 News Detroit on Wednesday afternoon. It reads:
"DTE's invested more than $1 billion over the last five years to modernize Detroit's electric grid.
That investment made a difference last week, when an EF2 tornado with 115 mph winds tore through Detroit's Islandview neighborhood. Tornados of that magnitude can cause damage so severe that it leaves communities without power for weeks. Instead, our crews worked around the clock and restored more than 90% of Detroit customers within 48 hours.
The powerful storm and the restoration effort that followed are proof that when we invest, it works. Where we've rebuilt the system, it was more resilient. Where upgrades are still underway, equipment took heavier damage, and in some cases, was destroyed.
There's more work ahead, but these investments are helping Detroit recover faster and building the resilient grid our customers deserve."
East side residents who lost power after the tornado said they are open to alternatives. Cash Hall said DTE needs to evolve to keep its place in the city.
"DTE needs to figure out become more sufficient with the things that they're doing so that we can continue to use them because they've been a great staple in the city of Detroit but we still need other options as well," Hall said.
Arianna Lee, who also lost power after the tornado, said DTE crews worked hard to restore service but pointed to a larger pattern.
"They were very diligently working. It was a lot of down transformers that they did fix. However, throughout the year without a tornado we do have inconsistent power," Lee said.
Lee said she wants the council's vote to lead to real change for residents.
"Any alternatives, any options for the citizens to make it more affordable…I say let's go for it," Lee said.
The council's vote is preliminary. The Legislative Policy Division will now research what options are available as the city looks toward building a stronger energy future.
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