In historic milestone, Mayor, DTE Energy & community break ground on first of five Solar Neighborhoods

• Van Dyke/Lynch neighborhood first of five solar neighborhoods to break ground, with activation expected in mid 2026
• Ten neighborhoods vied for opportunity to transform blighted vacant land into beautifully landscaped solar arrays
• Mayor vowed to build solar fields only in neighborhoods that showed widespread support
• When all 5 solar neighborhoods are completed, 165 acres of solar will generate enough clean energy to offset electricity used at 127 City municipal buildings
  

Following two years of planning, City Council approvals, land acquisition and clearing and extensive community engagement, residents in the Van Dyke/Lynch neighborhood joined with Mayor Mike Duggan and Councilmember Scott Benson to break ground on the first of five new solar fields totaling 165 acres.

The start of construction marks a major milestone in the city's efforts to repurpose blighted vacant land in neighborhoods while bringing significant community benefits to residents and creating enough clean energy to offset the electricity needs of 127 City municipal buildings.

When completed in Summer of next year, approximately 42 acres of vacant blighted land in Van Dyke/Lynch will be remade as a beautifully landscaped solar field. Pre-construction work is currently underway in the two other Phase One neighborhoods - Gratiot Findlay and State Fair - with full construction expected to be underway in early 2026.

Phase Two neighborhoods - Houston Whittier/Hayes and Greenfield Park/I-75-McNichols - are likely to start pre-construction activity Spring 2026. All five projects are expected to be up and running by the first quarter of 2027.

"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," said Mayor Duggan. "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."

Blight to Beauty

The land being used for the five solar fields had been a mix of vacant land and scattered mostly vacant homes, which the city has since removed. Many areas became frequent trouble spots of illegal dumping and other illegal activity. In their place will be an attractive, well-maintained and secure solar array.

"Our creative reuse of vacant land to house this solar array takes it from blighted to beautiful," said Detroit City Councilmember Scott Benson. "I am proud of how our community has embraced this project and has become home to the city's first solar neighborhood. We will be a focal point for the positive impact of renewable energy, bolstering Detroit's climate resiliency and providing clean, green energy to offset the power at municipal buildings, such as recreation centers and firehouses."

Residents of Van Dyke/Lynch selected decorative fencing and a combination of evergreen trees, such as arborvitae, dwarf blue spruce and northern white cedar for the exterior, accented by raised flower beds. Inside the solar array between and beneath the panels there will be a manicured meadow.

"My husband and I were considering leaving Detroit and moving to Georgia, but we decided to stay, and I'm so glad we did," said Van Dyke/Lynch resident Dorothy Gladney, who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 40 years. "I never thought I'd see the neighborhood turn around to what it was when we first moved here. The area is clean now and it looks so good."

Stronger neighborhoods, cleaner environment

The Solar Neighborhood project has become a major pillar in the city's climate sustainability agenda.

"Detroit's solar neighborhood project is making an impact at the most local level - transforming individual neighborhoods - but the more global impact will be in climate resiliency and air quality by reducing our carbon footprint," said the City's Director of the Office of Sustainability, Tepfirah Rushdan. "This is a project of which Detroiters, and we as city officials, are incredibly proud."

DTE and Lightstar were chosen to build the five solar arrays and DTE will lead the installation of the Van Dyke/Lynch solar field. Development of the remaining 123 acres in the other four Solar Neighborhoods - State Fair and Gratiot Findlay (Phase 1) and Houston Whittier/Hayes and Greenfield Park (Phase 2) - will be split between DTE and Lightstar.

"The Van Dyke/Lynch solar project represents a milestone for the shared vision DTE and the City have for a more sustainable future," said Joi Harris, president and chief executive officer, DTE Energy. "The Solar Neighborhood projects align with DTE's goals as we transition to generating energy that is cleaner - while also safe, reliable and affordable - not only for the people of Detroit, but for everyone we serve."

Detroit based Communities Power has been providing training and practical experience through the Solar Neighborhood Project to Detroit students. The Inclusive Solar Pathways Program builds technical and professional skills with hands-on experience through a demonstration solar rack. This academic year, several local students were sponsored to participate in the Inclusive Solar Pathways Program.

"Everyone deserves a chance to shine. Our training turns that chance into power," said Communities Power CEO Tammy Black.

Individuals interested in learning more about the Communities Power program can visit their website.

Residents receive home upgrades

Owner-occupied homes in each Solar Neighborhood outside of the solar arrays were eligible to receive between $15,000 and $25,000 per house for energy efficiency upgrades with the help of DTE - the amount depending on how many acres of solar their neighborhood generates. These improvements include roof repairs, windows, furnaces, hot water heaters and more. Across the five solar areas, nearly 250 households have taken advantage of the program, including 65 in Van Dyke Lynch.

Mrs. Dorothy Gladney, 40 year resident of the Van Dyke Lynch neighborhood, looking at renderings of what the solar field will look like once completed.