A simple — yet expensive — way to climate-proof the grid: Bury the power lines
SkimNews Take
The high upfront costs of burying power lines create a long-term investment barrier for utilities, even as it promises to reduce future storm-related repair expenses and improve grid resilience.
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- March 2025 ice storm knocked down trees and snapped utility poles across northern Michigan, leaving thousands without power for weeks.
- Richard B. Rood said climate change could bring more freezing rain and ice storms to northern Michigan, increasing grid stress.
- Consumers Energy estimates undergrounding one mile of power line in Michigan costs $400,000, rising to $2–3 million per mile in urban areas, compared with much lower costs for overhead lines.
- Great Lakes Energy announced it will bury all new power lines during construction to improve resilience.
- Tony Chartrand of Traverse City Light & Power said undergrounding is a key part of the solution but not all lines will be buried, reflecting a balancing act.
Why it matters: Utilities in northern Michigan must absorb $400K‑$3M per‑mile undergrounding costs, which will shape rate structures for customers, while the investment is intended to cut outage times and boost safety during harsher ice storms.
