Residents of Detroit's future solar neighborhoods have given their approval to final designs for solar facilities that promise to redefine their communities. Construction on the first phase is expected to begin in spring 2025, Mayor Mike Duggan said at a meeting with community members from the Gratiot/Findlay, Van Dyke/Lynch and State Fair neighborhoods. The designs, which feature a mix of urban agriculture and aesthetic touches such as decorative fences and perennial gardens, are the result of a deep-rooted community engagement process.
These neighborhoods, spanning 104 acres, are part of an ambitious plan unveiled by Mayor Duggan to power 127 city buildings with clean energy. The approval of the solar system designs marks an important milestone on the city's path to sustainability and urban renewal. With landscape aesthetics ranging from raised beds to manicured wildflower meadows, “these landscaping designs were a completely community-driven process,” said Mayor Duggan, according to the City of Detroit. The implementation of Agri-PV, i.e. the combination of agricultural use and solar power generation, represents a notable innovation within the project's design guidelines.
The generous inclusion of community voices was crucial to the environmental and visual impact of these projects. Haley Henley, a resident of the Van Dyke/Lynch neighborhood, expressed pride and pride in her contribution: “I felt like my contribution was valuable. “I'm proud to know that when the solar fields are finished, I can say that I had a hand in creating them,” Henley told the city of Detroit. As shovels dig into the ground next season, these neighborhoods' journey from blueprint to solar hub symbolizes a measured step toward a greener future.
Groundwork for Phase 1 has already begun as the city begins demolition of mostly vacant properties, laying the foundation for upcoming construction. Mayor Duggan believes this initiative is a remarkably smooth and efficient process that has received community buy-in from the start. Lightstar Renewables and DTE Electric Company have been named developers for the first phase solar fields, with Lightstar overseeing the Gratiot/Findlay and State Fair areas while DTE is tackling the 43-acre Van Dyke/Lynch site. This partnership is designed to harness the city's untapped solar potential while addressing residents' aesthetic and functional desires.