Detroit has opened its first solar neighborhood at Van Dyke/Lynch, converting unused land into a renewable energy site. The City of Detroit reported that the project took two years of planning, City Council approvals, land purchases, demolitions, and community engagement. Mayor Mike Duggan said, “The way Detroit is doing solar is very different than you see elsewhere in Michigan or across the country, which is why it has been so well received.”
Detroit plans to convert 42 acres of land in the Van Dyke and Lynch area into a landscaped solar array by next summer. Preparations for similar projects in the Gratiot Findlay and State Fair neighborhoods are scheduled to start construction by early 2026, with a second phase set for the following spring. Mayor Mike Duggan said, “This has been a community driven process from the very beginning, and we are bringing solar only to neighborhoods that actively pursued it and were enthusiastic about having it.” Residents helped select design features, including decorative fencing and evergreen trees. Van Dyke/Lynch resident Dorothy Gladney said, “My husband and I were considering leaving Detroit and moving to Georgia, but we decided to stay, and I'm so glad we did. I never thought I'd see the neighborhood turn around to what it was when we first moved here,” according to the City of Detroit.
DTE Energy and Lightstar will build the Van Dyke/Lynch solar array as part of Detroit’s solar neighborhood plan. DTE CEO Joi Harris said, “The Van Dyke/Lynch solar project represents a milestone for the shared vision DTE and the City have for a more sustainable future.” Detroit’s Communities Power program is training residents in solar technology, with CEO Tammy Black stating, “Everyone deserves a chance to shine.” Around 250 homeowners in the affected neighborhoods have also received DTE-funded upgrades valued between $15,000 and $25,000 per home, including roof repairs and new heating systems, as stated by the City of Detroit.
