By Karen Camper

It’s happened again.  The Bluff City has been battered by another severe weather event and the people of Memphis are left without power, while those in power still have no plan on how to keep the lights on.  This is becoming all too common, and I don’t just mean the power outages.  I’m talking about the lack of leadership and action that will prevent further disruption from happening again.  With every storm cloud, cold front, and the possibility of snow – the City of Memphis shudders, bracing for the eventual loss of power that we know comes with bad weather and bad leadership.

This year alone, we have seen at least 3 major and prolonged power outages that have kept Memphis in the dark.  Why does this keep happening?  As more severe weather and climate change creep into the mid-south, it is more important than ever to harden our power supply and protect our electrical grid.  But, to me and most Memphians, it feels like we are out in the cold.  If I’m elected Mayor, that’s going to change.

This is how I plan on keeping the lights on in Memphis:

My administration will focus on burying the remaining 60% of above-ground power lines to ensure that high winds and trees don’t interfere with service.  I’m going to work with state and federal partners to secure funding to upgrade worn-out equipment from transformers to substations.  And I will put an emphasis on creating a more sustainable Memphis by investing in renewable energy sources that relieve strain on our grid.  

But most importantly, I’m going to actually lead on this issue.  I’m as tired as everyone else of sitting in the dark in my living room and trying to find a public place to charge my cell phone; boiling water or worrying about if an elderly parent is okay without access to power.  I am asking you to give me the opportunity to bring back power to Memphis and to Memphians.