Trump Denies Disaster Aid to Rural Michigan Co-ops, Putting Heavy Repair Costs on Members

Overview

• On Oct. 22, FEMA told Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that assistance for Presque Isle Electric & Gas and Great Lakes Energy was not warranted after the March ice storm.
• Documents obtained by Politico’s E&E News show federal reviewers tallied about $90 million in utility damage, nearly five times the level that typically triggers aid.
• The cooperatives warn unreimbursed expenses will be charged to their customer-owners, with Whitmer estimating at least $4,500 per household without federal help.
• Local officials say the denial could leave tens of millions in costs on members and even threaten the solvency of the co-ops.
• Michigan’s House passed $100 million in state recovery funds in March, but the Senate has not acted, and Rep. Jack Bergman has asked the president to reconsider after at least nine gubernatorial disaster requests were rejected since April.