Detroit to roll out community solar farm program

DETROIT (FOX 2) - A solar farm could be coming to a neighborhood near you, thanks to a new city of Detroit program being unveiled this week.

Labeled a "community-driven" plan, neighborhood organizations and block clubs will be invited to apply for solar panels within their neck of the woods in Detroit. The mayor plans to reveal more details about the initiative at a community meeting Wednesday.

"In order to do this, we need 250 acres throughout the city to have solar farms," said Erinn Harris, the deputy director of the Department of Neighborhoods with the City of Detroit

Vacant land has become a common sight in Detroit thanks to blight removal and population loss in the city. 

While many residents have found ways to turn that land into community parks, rain gardens, or meeting places, the new plan would add energy production to the available tools at residents' disposal.

City officials say the great thing about this plan is that it takes vacant land and turns it into a resource with benefits, and it cleans up the neighborhood at the same time.

"We constantly are getting calls on a regular basis, complains from residents about vacant land that is blighted, so this is a way that neighbors can get involved, have solar farms in their neighborhood, and it will eliminate blight, and it will help the city reduce its carbon footprint," Harris said.

Mayor Mike Duggan will be in person at the Second Ebenezer Church on Dequindre at 7 p.m. Wednesday to show off the program.