By Shoshannah Lenski, City of Ann Arbor Executive Director, Sustainable Energy Utility
I have always felt most connected to Jewish tradition through teva, or nature. I suspect I owe that connection to childhood summer camp, where daily services were held outdoors, under a canopy of lush trees, sitting on rustic wooden benches, and accompanied by the sounds of our fellow creatures (sometimes the bleat of a goat from the small farm, more often the buzz of mosquitoes.) There are many ways to “repair the world,” but for me, tikkun olam feels like a call to protect this precious earth that humanity, and all life, depends upon. It is a privilege for me to be able to engage in that work not just personally, but also professionally as the executive director of Ann Arbor’s brand-new Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU).
The energy sector is responsible for 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions, so transforming it is at the heart of climate action and building a sustainable future. In November 2024, Ann Arbor voters overwhelmingly supported the creation of the SEU, a new and unique form of municipal energy utility. The SEU will offer City residents, businesses, and institutions access to clean, local energy, including rooftop solar with battery storage and neighborhood-scale geothermal systems for heating and cooling. These energy systems will be owned, installed, and maintained by the SEU, with customers simply paying for the energy through a monthly bill. This model can enable access for families that might not otherwise be able to invest in clean energy, such as renters or homeowners who aren’t sure how long they’ll stay in their current house. It also works well for organizations – like congregations – who can live their values, lower their energy bills, and build resilience so everything from religious services to community services can continue uninterrupted during grid outages.
Turning the SEU from the vision it is today to a fully operating utility in the next 12 to18 months is going to take the efforts of the whole kehillah, the community. Ann Arborites can help by registering an “expression of interest” at a2seu.com and telling friends, neighbors, and fellow congregants about the SEU. The future of energy lives here, and with it, we can have a beautiful future for teva too!