DETROIT – Some communities across Detroit noticed changes as the city prepares to introduce solar neighborhoods in some areas.
The project has been in the works for about a year and a half, and one city staffer says it would ultimately help make Detroit more sustainable.
Some neighbors Local 4 spoke with are convinced the project will also make their blocks safer.
Thennis Hadley was seen watching vacant homes be demolished along her block, as the city of Detroit prepares to develop this area into one of its solar neighborhoods.
“It was one two doors down from me, and they became an eyesore as no one ever moved into them,” said Hadley.
Phase one of Detroit’s solar neighborhoods project is underway. City staff says the mission is doing something good for the planet and good for the neighborhoods by installing solar fields in areas that want them.
“Any Detroiter knows that some of our neighborhoods are one and two houses on the block. Those neighbors worked with the city and said, ‘Hey, I will take your voluntary buyout. I would like to move to a neighborhood that’s more dense, or I would like to move a couple of blocks over,” said Detroit Director of Sustainability Tepfirah Rushden.
She says five communities have been identified for the solar neighborhood project.
“Each neighborhood is getting between $15,000 and $25,000 from the city from this project that is going into their homes,” Rushden said.
Residents who decided to remain in the Detroit solar neighborhoods are being offered energy-efficient upgrades.
Hadley’s already had a new roof installed outside this week. A new energy-efficient furnace, water heater, and windows are also coming.
About 265 homes are getting home improvements. And about 165 acres of land will become solar fields.
Hadley says she and her neighbors are looking forward to watching the project develop.
Detroit’s Office of Sustainability says all of those home upgrades should be completed in the next year.
The first solar infrastructure is expected to go into the ground by late summer.
And first, solar parks should be up and running by the second quarter of next year.
And the second solar park should be up and running by the second quarter of next year.
