City selects first Detroit neighborhoods to house solar fields – WDET 101.9 FM

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan this week announced the first three communities selected to build solar arrays on vacant land as part of the city’s Solar Neighborhoods project.

The program, part of the city’s plan to reduce neighborhood blight and fight climate change, aims to create 200 acres of solar arrays to generate enough clean energy to power all 127 of the city’s municipal buildings.

Gratiot/Findlay, Van Dyke/Lynch, and State Fair neighborhoods were selected for Phase 1 of the project, which will turn 104 acres of land in the combined areas into solar fields.

Five more neighborhoods are finalists for the expected Phase 2 of the program.

Neighborhood benefits

Only 21 homes in the area slated for the construction were identified as owner-occupied. Each homeowner accepted at minimum $90,000 and moving assistance to leave the area. Renters in the area will receive the cost of relocating and 18 months of free rent in their new homes.

There are 159 owner-occupied homes in the area adjoining the location of the new fields. Those homeowners will receive $15,000 to $25,000 in energy efficient upgrades to their homes. Upgrade options include:

• Windows
• Roof repairs
• Residential solar panels
• Energy efficient appliances
• Air sealing and home insulation
• Energy efficient hot water heaters and furnaces
• Smart thermostats
• Energy efficient lighting
• Battery backups

The homeowners living in the areas slated for construction who did not want to move were offered the same benefits and agreed to have the fields built around them.

Landlords and vacant landowners will receive fair market value pursuant to Michigan’s condemnation law.