Why partisan politics makes it harder to keep the lights on in Michigan

Hundreds of thousands of Michiganders lost power over the weekend of July Fourth, prompting a conversation about the fragility of the electrical grid in the face of climate change. Democratic lawmakers have proposed solutions: fair compensation for power outages, guaranteeing improvement of utility services, ensuring customers aren’t contributing to CEO bonuses and more. But these bills are gaining little to no traction, often deprived of a hearing. Why can’t politics fix this issue? Colin Jackson is a reporter for the Michigan Public Radio Network. He joined The Metro’s Robyn Vincent to discuss why gridlock in Lansing has meant a less stable electrical grid.

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