The Detroit City Council has approved DTE Energy’s project to build urban solar arrays on a 10-acre vacant parcel of land in the City. The project will generate more than US$1 million in tax revenue for the City over the 20-year lease and will produce enough power for approximately 450 homes. The construction is scheduled to begin in May and to be completed by the end of 2016.
The solar arrays will be built on Detroit’s blighted and unused land. DTE Energy and the City expect to reenergize the surrounding neighborhoods as well as spur economic growth. DTE Energy designs the solar arrays as a beautiful park with an investment of more than US$1 billion – the investment involves in solar array constructions and a 10-year modernization plan for the City’s power grid.
“This partnership with DTE Energy is a perfect example of how public-private partnerships can stabilize and strengthen our neighborhoods," said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. "This vacant property soon will be put back to use in a way that is good for the neighborhood and good for the environment."
The City of Detroit has also established partnerships with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Erb Foundation, Walker-Miller Energy Services and the Greening of Detroit to support improvements to the park, as well as to provide STEM education, workforce development and energy efficiency programs to benefit the local community.
So far, DTE has five solar projects under development if including this one. The other four projects are an array in Ypsilanti, one at the GM Warren Transmission plant, and two large-scale projects in Lapeer. DTE Energy expects to operate up to 31 solar arrays by the end of 2016, being able to supply more than 14,000 homes with clean energy.