A simple — yet expensive — way to climate-proof the grid: Bury the power lines

Burying power lines is proposed as a climate-resilience measure to reduce outages caused by extreme weather, highlighted by a 2025 ice storm in northern Michigan that left thousands without power for weeks. Utilities acknowledge the benefits but cite high costs, with undergrounding estimated at $400,000 per mile in rural areas and up to $3 million in urban zones.