Salt Public Affairs gives $54,000 to Michigan anti-public power group A2rec
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 7
Salt Public Affairs gives $54,000 to Michigan anti-public power group A2rec
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 7
Michigan campaign records show the payment to Ann Arbor Responsible Energy Coalition, which opposes a November municipalisation ballot drive targeting DTE Energy's local grid.
The report says A2rec has raised nearly $2m from DTE, contractors, lobbyists and consultants while presenting itself as a grassroots campaign warning of debt and higher bills.
Advocates say such utility-backed groups aim to block public power efforts nationwide, as communities argue municipal utilities can offer lower rates, better reliability and greater accountability.
How can citizens see through corporate 'astroturfing' to make an informed choice about their energy future?
What are the true financial risks versus rewards when a community decides to take over its own power grid?
Ann Arbor’s Public Power Fight: $1.8 Million in Corporate Money, Misinformation, and the $54,000 Link to Salt Public Affairs
Overview
In 2026, Salt Public Affairs donated $54,000 to the Ann Arbor Responsible Energy Coalition (A2REC), a group heavily funded by DTE Energy and its affiliates with $1.8 million. Salt’s close ties to DTE and its role in obscuring the donation reveal a coordinated effort to mask corporate influence behind a front group. A2REC used this funding to spread fear-based messages about the high costs of municipalization, while grassroots opponents operated on a fraction of the budget. Voter dissatisfaction with DTE’s high rates and poor reliability fueled support for a 2026 ballot initiative to create a public utility board, setting the stage for legal battles and a broader national movement challenging utility monopolies.