Breaking ground on Detroit’s Van Dyke/Lynch Solar Park

November 18, 2025

DTE Energy and Detroit have commenced construction on the Van Dyke/Lynch Solar Park, a 42-acre facility that represents one of five solar installations under the city's Neighborhood Solar Initiative. The project will produce 10 megawatts of renewable electricity starting in June 2026, sufficient to power over 2,000 residences and help operate municipal facilities including City Hall and emergency services buildings. Nearby residents will receive home energy efficiency improvements valued at up to $15,000 through DTE's program.

Who is affected

Residents living near the Van Dyke/Lynch Solar Park (receiving energy efficiency upgrades)
More than 2,000 homes equivalent (benefiting from the clean energy generation)
Detroit City government and municipal building users (City Hall, recreation centers, police and fire stations)
DTE Energy customers throughout the service area
Residents of the Greenfield Park neighborhood (future solar park location)
Detroit residents in neighborhoods participating in the five-site solar initiative

What action is being taken

DTE Energy and the City of Detroit are constructing the Van Dyke/Lynch Solar Park
Five new solar parks are being developed under the Neighborhood Solar Initiative
DTE is providing residents near the Van Dyke/Lynch Solar Park with home energy efficiency upgrades

Why it matters

This project represents a significant step toward Detroit's ambitious clean energy transformation, demonstrating how major cities can transition to renewable power while maintaining community involvement and support. The initiative addresses both environmental sustainability and community investment by reducing carbon emissions, offsetting electricity demands from municipal operations, and providing tangible benefits to nearby residents through energy efficiency improvements. The community-driven approach distinguishes Detroit's solar implementation from other programs, ensuring neighborhoods actively want and support these installations rather than having them imposed, which could serve as a replicable model for other cities pursuing renewable energy goals.

What's next

The Van Dyke/Lynch Solar Park will come online in June 2026
DTE will begin constructing a solar park in Detroit's Greenfield Park neighborhood next year
The City aims to power 100% of municipal buildings with clean energy by 2034
Detroit plans to source 50% of the city's electricity from clean energy within the next three years
DTE targets reaching 50% renewable energy by 2030 and net zero carbon emissions by 2050

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle