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Published on January 16, 2025
Detroit City Council Greenlights Next Phase of Solar Neighborhoods Project Amid Public DebateSource: Wikipedia/SolarWriter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The City of Detroit remains decisively on the path toward renewable energy after the City Council approved the second phase of a large-scale solar neighborhoods project, according to The Detroit Free Press. The project, which aims to power the city's 127 municipal buildings with solar energy, is set to expand with this second phase wherein over 60 acres in the neighborhoods of Houston-Whitter/Hayes and Greenfield Park will be developed with solar arrays by DTE Energy and Lightstar Renewables.

Despite the plan's forward momentum, Councilmember Angela Whitfield-Calloway cast the sole dissenting vote, maintaining her opposition shown in the project's initial phase, but Council President Mary Sheffield and Council Member Gabriela Santiago-Romero, who had reservations about the first phase, did not object to the next stage of expansion, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit. Amid public comments that saw divided sentiments, with some residents proposing alternatives such as rooftop solar or expressing skepticism over the project's long-term efficacy, others recognized the initiative as progress toward cleaner energy sources, steadfastly pointing out other pressing issues in the city like the need for affordable housing.

In practical terms, the second phase will also include energy-efficient upgrades for at least 70 homeowners in Houston-Whitter/Hayes and 36 in Greenfield Park to counterbalance relocation implications and complement the solar fields with communal benefits. This was stated in a statement obtained by The Detroit Free Press. City legal counsel Conrad Mallett elaborated on the acquisition efforts, revealing that out of the 965 parcels required, including 245 primary residences, the city has made significant headway and faced only two lawsuits challenging the condemnation process, referring to it as a "remarkably successful endeavor."

While specifics on construction schedules remain tentative, there are estimates suggesting the land could be readied for solar panel installation as early as the upcoming spring and summer months, as detailed by city officials in reports from FOX 2 Detroit, with energy efficiency upgrades for the affected homes anticipated to be completed by year's end. The overarching goal is to mitigate the city's power expenses significantly and to bolster sustainable energy production. Boston-based Lightstar Renewables is set to forge ahead with 19 acres of development in Houston-Whittier/Hayes while DTE Energy spearheads the 43 acres slated for Greenfield Park, as noted by The Detroit News.

Importantly, the project is tethered to federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to finance the installation of the solar arrays, but with an impending change in the national administration, there are tremors of concern about the initiative's fiscal continuity. The urgency in fast tracking the Neighborhood Solar Initiative's second phase, as per FOX 2 Detroit, is palpable as city officials and the exiting mayor rush to cement the groundwork for the transformative energy project amid political uncertainties.

Detroit-Real Estate & Development