Residents from 3 Detroit neighborhoods have come together and asking that blighted vacant lots be replaced by solar panels that will generate clean energy.
The initiative was presented to the City Council last Friday and has been under review for the past two weeks, facing from some opposition from council members, including Angela Calloway, who represents the affected district.
People who live in The Gratiot/Findlay, Van Dyke/Lynch, and State Fair communities applied and their neighborhoods were selected to be first for this project. The initiative aims to transform vacant and blighted land into solar arrays that will generate enough clean energy to power all 127 municipal buildings in Detroit.
As part of the initiative, homeowners in the selected areas will receive $15,000 to $25,000 in home improvements. The planned upgrades include:
- Windows
- Roof repairs
- Residential solar panels
- Energy-efficient appliances
- Home insulation and air sealing
- Energy-efficient furnaces and hot water heaters
- Smart thermostats
- Energy-efficient lighting
- Battery backup systems
