Detroit City Council approves first phase of solar neighborhoods project after delays

After multiple delays and several hours of discussion, Detroit City Council on Tuesday approved the first phase of the solar neighborhoods initiative, which will convert land into solar panel farms.

Solar farms are expected to generate energy to offset electricity used by Detroit's 127 municipal buildings. Several council members continued to question the project after last week's session centered on seeking further information, with some members suggesting then that they deal with it after returning from a monthlong recess in August. But other members were against it because they have known about the initiative for a year.

The bundle of resolutions passed, with objections from Council President Mary Sheffield, and members Angela Whitfield-Calloway and Gabriela Santiago-Romero.

Council member Latisha Johnson was concerned about land speculators and asked Corporation Counsel Conrad Mallett how the city can ensure they do not sweep up land and drive up costs.

"What these vacant land owners are entitled to is the fair market value of the prices as of today," Mallett said. "Part of the reason that time is not on our side is that people could come in and buy these vacant lots and drive up the price on purpose."

DTE will build the 40-acre field in the Van Dyke-Lynch neighborhood and Boston-based Lightstar Renewables will build 63 acres of solar fields in the Gratiot-Findlay and State Fair neighborhoods for the first phase of the project. Representatives of both companies told council members they plan to hire and contract locally. A Lightstar representative said the company also intends to offer a workforce accelerator program to help Detroit-based electricians and contractors grow their business and connect to various work opportunities.

Both contracts expire after 35 years. Council member Fred Durhal III asked about risks associated with possibly ending a contract, due to concerns about the length of it. Mallett said despite costs associated with breaking off a deal, the city has a "robust, unfettered ability to terminate" the contract at any time.

Sheffield took issue with how the project rolled out and said it was rushed. She emphasized she is not against workforce development or renewable energy, but wanted more time.

"My support for solar farms for reducing our carbon footprint for renewable energy is a serious thing. I think climate change is real," Sheffield said. "The issue for me is how we achieve it.”

Sheffield also noted that solar arrays, in other cities like Chicago, Cincinnati and Philadelphia, were installed in more rural areas. She referenced a legislative policy division report, which "noted that many comparable cities attempting to dedicate large areas of land have not been found.”

"I still believe that we have not not studied or explored scenarios or policies that represent a different path to reducing our carbon footprint.”

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Resident Maesha Parker supported the program as a measure to clear blight, especially for children.

"Our children need those solar panels so they can see that when they ride through the neighborhoods, the neighborhood is changing for them. They want to be safe on the sidewalks and in the streets … they'd be able to ride their bikes over there," Parker said.

Kyle Kentala returned to council Tuesday to express her disapproval of the project. Kentala asked council members last week to explore multiple aspects of the project but suggested to officials Tuesday that many of the supporters do not live in the footprint.

"Being told that dump sites, blight and vacant homes will finally be taken care of when the city hasn’t fixed those issues today, when taxpaying Detroiters live in those areas doesn’t add up," Kentala said, adding that the city's neighborhoods department "barely alerted" residents of meetings and provided a "depressingly low property assessment."

The first three neighborhoods designated for the program include 100 acres of land with 21 owner-occupied houses. Owners signed an agreement to give up their homes, in exchange for $90,000. Renters will receive money to move and 18 months free rent, and Mayor Mike Duggan, at an announcement of the initiative, said landlords and owners of vacant lots will be paid fair market value. 

Owners of adjacent homes will receive various home improvements, including anything from new windows, roof repairs, residential solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, home insulation and air sealing, energy-efficient furnaces and water heaters, smart thermostats, energy-efficient lighting or battery backup.

Dana Afana is the Detroit city hall reporter for the Free Press. Contact: dafana@freepress.com. Follow her: @DanaAfana