Mayor Duggan's Neighborhood Solar Initiative aims to repurpose mostly vacant lots in Detroit neighborhoods into sites of clean energy production. While some areas have vacant homes, there are still occupied residences within the designated sites. The goal is to select neighborhood sites totaling 200 acres of neighborhood land needed to offset municipal solar.
The project is part of Detroit's broader sustainability goals, targeting a 100% offset of municipal energy usage with renewable sources. The solar arrays will generate 33 megawatts of solar energy (21 in phase 1), significantly contributing to the city’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from municipal buildings. Once connected to the electrical grid, these solar arrays will begin to offset the electricity required to operate 127 city buildings, including City Hall, police and fire stations, and recreation centers.
First 3 Solar Neighborhoods Chosen
On June 24, Mayor Duggan announced the first three finalist neighborhoods selected to host solar arrays:
- Gratiot Findlay
- Van Dyke/Lynch
- State Fair
Finalist Site Maps
Community Engagement
Led by the Office of Sustainability and working closely with the Department of Neighborhoods, city officials partnered with local solar experts, or Neighborhood Solar Partners (NSPs), will work with five to six neighborhoods to host solar arrays .A coalition of local nonprofits, environmental groups, and energy experts have been instrumental in supporting the initiative. These partners assist with resident engagement, technical evaluations, and implementation of community benefits.
Watch Mayor Duggan’s Solar Speech
The initiative followed a thorough, months-long community engagement process collaboratively led by the City of Detroit's Office of Sustainability, Department of Neighborhoods and NSPs, involving dozens of neighborhood meetings. This effort ensured that residents were informed and could express their interest in hosting solar arrays, resulting in the selection of the Gratiot/Findlay, Van Dyke/Lynch, and State Fair neighborhoods as the first three solar neighborhoods.
Rigorous community engagement and residents' wishes are prioritized throughout the selection process.
Neighborhood Solar Partners (NSPs):
Green Door Initiative
EcoWorks
D2 Solar
MI Interfaith Power and Light
Peace Tree
Sustainable Community Farms
Walker-Miller Energy
Rescue MI Nature
Manistique Community Treehouse Center
Ryter Cooperatives
First Family Solar
Anti-Gravity, LLC
SDEV
Energy Alliance
Community Voices: Solar Stories from Detroit
Hear from local residents, City Council members, community leaders like Tammy Black, and other advocates as they share their experiences with solar energy and its impact on our neighborhoods.
Community Benefits
Residents of occupied homes within the solar footprint will receive the following on a voluntary basis:
- Compensation equal to double the market value (or $90,000 minimum) of their property, including with moving expenses and relocation services.
- Any renters will receive 18 months' worth of rent along with moving expenses and relocation services.
- The initiative includes energy efficiency upgrades for surrounding homes, with a minimum value of $15,000 on average per home.
Each acre contributed will be provided with up to $25,000 in community benefits for energy-efficient upgrades, prioritizing affected homeowners and renters within the solar array footprint.
Each neighbor will choose to use these benefits to reduce their energy burden, for any of the following, reducing energy bills by 10-20%:
Windows
Roof repairs
Energy efficient appliances
Energy Efficient furnaces and hot water heaters
Home insulation and air sealing
Smart thermostats
Energy-efficient lighting
Battery back-up
Residential Solar Panels
To receive the home energy efficiency upgrades, a homeowner must have lived in their home within the qualifying neighborhood boundaries as of December 31, 2023 and be living in that home through the date when the home energy efficiency upgrades are being performed. The City has been working through the Department of Neighborhoods and Assessor’s Office to identify owner-occupied homes within the neighborhood boundary, and will continue to perform outreach to connect homeowners with available resources, including the home energy efficiency upgrades following City Council’s approval of the contract.
These solar arrays are expected to generate enough power to offset electricity usage for city buildings. With the backing of the community and rigorous technical evaluation, the initiative promises not only environmental benefits but also community advantages for residents in the surrounding areas.
Equity fund for homeowners caught in limbo waiting for Phase 2
The 5 remaining neighborhoods competing for Phase 2 selection will not know their future until 2025. There are 31 owner-occupied homes in those 5 neighborhoods who have already signed option agreements to sell their homes, if selected, but they are now placed in a limbo period in which it will be impossible to do anything with their homes. The City is proposing a $4.4 million equity fund, paid from reserves in the Utility Conversion Fund, so that any of those 31 homeowners can exercise their option to sell their homes and move out of the neighborhood.
Solar Fields required to be returned to the City as greenfield sites when no longer generating power
Under the agreements, the Solar Fields will be operated for at least 25-35 years generating solar power. Whenever their useful life as solar fields comes to an end, the contracts require the developers to remove all of the solar equipment and return the property to the city as a green field.
Zoning Updates for the Solar Neighborhood Initiative
While Michigan law exempts city projects like police stations, fire stations, parks, and utilities from residential zoning restrictions, the City of Detroit is working to ensure transparency and public engagement in its Solar Neighborhood Initiative. The initiative aims to develop city-owned solar fields that will generate renewable energy to meet the electricity demands of city buildings.
To support this, the City Planning Commission (CPC) is reviewing zoning updates. A draft exemption within Article 1 has been proposed, addressing current and future solar projects with specific qualifications:
- Projects developed by or on behalf of the City
- Located on land owned by the City or a City agency
- Approved by City Council resolution
The requirement for a City Council resolution ensures these projects have proper oversight and community support.
City Planning Commission Public Hearings:
- First Public Hearing: Thursday, September 19 at 7:00pm
- Second Public Hearing: Thursday, October 3 at 7:00pm
Neighborhood Solar Initiative Timeline
Launch & Planning
- June 2023: Mayor Duggan announces the Neighborhood Solar Initiative, offering community benefits to participating neighborhoods.
- December 2023 - February 2024: City opens Request for Proposals (RFP) for solar developers. The City evaluates submissions and community support to select neighborhoods for solar array projects.
Community Engagement
- Ongoing: Office of Sustainability and Department of Neighborhoods collaborate with local groups, engaging residents through 60+ meetings to plan site layouts and community benefits zones.
- Community Partners: 19 neighborhoods applied to host solar fields on vacant land through partnerships with environmental organizations.
Selection of Finalists
- February 2024: Resident-supported neighborhoods advance, resulting in nine finalists, now narrowed to eight. Final site selections require City Council approval.
- Phase 1: Gratiot/Findlay, State Fair, and Van Dyke/Lynch neighborhoods chosen to host the first 104 acres of solar arrays.
Next Steps
- Community Design & Approval: The City, developers, and residents will finalize site designs, including landscaping and maintenance plans, before construction.
- City Council Approval: Resolutions include property acquisitions, developer contracts, and an equity fund for homeowner buyouts in remaining finalist neighborhoods.
Phase 1 Execution
- Late Fall 2024: Site preparation for 103 acres begins. Additional neighborhoods will be selected for future solar projects in 2025, aiming to power city streetlights and expand clean energy across Detroit.
Reducing Emissions, Lowering Energy Costs, and Building a Sustainable Future
The Solar Neighborhood Initiative not only aims to reduce emissions and energy costs but also promotes quality jobs, community wealth-building, and energy resilience. It aligns with the Detroit Climate Strategy and broader national goals set by the Biden-Harris Administration, contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future for Detroit residents.
The initiative is crucial for achieving Detroit's goal of reducing municipal greenhouse gas by 35% by 2024 per the 2019 City Council approved GHG Ordinance. The Neighborhood Solar Initiative will offset emissions 23% of 2012 levels. Combined with the business-as-usual anticipated decrease of 13%, the City will be on track to achieve our municipal goals with a 36% reduction.
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