The city of Detroit’s new Solar Neighborhoods Initiative is bringing a higher level of photovoltaic power to three new divisions.
Mayor Mike Duggan announced that solar fields will be installed to generate 31 MW in carbon-free capacity to city sites. Those neighborhood solar projects include 63 acres in the Gratiot/Findlay and State Fair areas as part of phase 1. Van Dyke-Lynch was another neighborhood receiving the solar PV site in the first phase.
The expansion’s phase 2 will install 19 acres of solar fields in the Houston-Witter/Hayes neighborhood.
Lightstar was selected as solar developer for the three neighborhood projects.
"The work we're doing with Solar Neighborhoods is about more than renewable energy—it's about creating opportunities," said Brianna Fiorillo, Policy & Strategy Manager, Midwest at Lightstar. "We're energizing communities, empowering farmers, and showing the world that solar can build resilient cities."
The neighborhoods were selected with the aim of the initiative to include vacant, destroyed land and use it to generate enough clean energy, as part of the city's efforts to address climate change. These include all police and fire stations, transit centers, City administrative buildings, recreation centers, health clinics, City Airport, and more.
The initiative will also make energy efficiency upgrades at more than 106 adjacent homes, as well as relocation assistance for several homes moved because of the solar installation. The solar farms are expected to deliver carbon-free energy for close to 35 years, according to the city.
Urban farmers also will be encouraged to manage one to four acres of neighborhood farmland at no cost and close to the solar projects. More on agrivoltiacs
