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What is the MIGreenPower Community Impact Pilot? 

DTE Energy is committed to doing its part to address climate change and is working with stakeholders to help decarbonize our state’s economy. With a goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, DTE is focused on bringing significantly more clean energy onto the grid, investing in universal scale wind and solar projects that are creating a cleaner Michigan for all Michiganders. We also offer several options for customers who want to play a more direct role in the state’s clean energy transformation. This includes offering enrollment in one of our popular voluntary renewable energy programsassisting customers who want to install private generation systems to connect safely to the grid, and exploring pilot programs with communities and municipalities who want to work with us on a more customized solution.     

As a result of conversations with community stakeholder groups, we have now embarked on an ambitious pilot to bring community solar projects to three underserved communities in our service territory: Detroit, Highland Park and River Rouge. The goal of the pilot is to help income-qualified customers and communities participate in the benefits of renewable energy. Income-qualified is defined as persons who are at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and must be a resident living in the pilot community. Selected income-qualified residents for each of the projects will be subscribed to 100% renewable energy for their place of living and will also receive an associated bill credit, which will lower their monthly bill. To further enable bill savings, two of the projects will include energy efficiency initiatives for selected participants. 

Driving the pilot is the Low-Income Solar Council (Solar Council), which includes one representative from DTE; Vote Solar, a non-profit organization; Guidehouse, a subject matter expert (SME); a staff member from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC); and one income-qualified representative (community representative) from each of the three communities. The Solar Council will oversee the success of the pilot and will be responsible for identifying, reviewing and recommending potential projects as well as other pilot specifics including community outreach, fundraising and project prioritization. DTE will partner with the Solar Council to identify funds and will approve, develop and operate the projects recommended by the Solar Council.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How will the MIGreenPower Community Impact Pilot be funded? 

A: DTE will provide 30% of the funding for the pilot, up to $300,000 for each solar project. These funds will be allocated to engineering, procurement and construction. The remaining funding will come from third party contributions. 

 

Q: Where will the solar arrays be located? 

A: The solar arrays will be located in Detroit, River Rouge and Highland Park. Specific locations for the projects have not yet been determined. 

 

Q: When will the solar projects be operational?

A: Operational timelines will vary based on funding and site selection.

 

Q: How will customers be selected? 

A: DTE and the Solar Council will work together to determine the methodology for selecting individuals to participate in the pilot.  

 

Q: How many customers will participate in the pilot? 

A: The appropriate methodology to determine how many income-qualified individuals may participate in each project will be decided by DTE and the Solar Council. The number of individuals that can participate from each community is dependent on the size of the community solar array.  

 

Q: How much will selected pilot participants receive in bill credits? 

A: Bill credits for the selected residents will be based on DTE’s approved voluntary green pricing tariff and are estimated to be approximately $35 each month. 

 

Q: Will council members be paid? 

A: All community representatives will be compensated for their time. The remaining council members will not be compensated through the pilot funding. 

 

Q: How often will the council meet? 

A: The Solar Council will meet at least once a month and may meet as often as the members decide is needed. Meeting minutes will be posted publicly on this site. 

 

Q: How long will the pilot last? 

A: During 2023 and 2024, DTE Electric will analyze the data and will file a case with the MPSC no later than the first quarter of 2025 in which DTE Electric will propose either termination of the pilot, commencement of an income-qualified solar program or continuation of the pilot on different terms.  

 

Meet the Members of the Solar Council 

Solar Council Members

DTE Representatives: Reilly Butler, Eddie Smith

MPSC Representative: Cody Matthews

Non-Profit Representative: Will Kenworthy, Vote Solar

Subject Matter Expert (SME) Representative: Sam Shannon, Guidehouse
 
Detroit Community Representative: Janis Hazel
 
River Rouge Community Representative: Darryl Folks
 
Highland Park Community Representative: Juan Shannon

 

 

Community Engagement

The purpose of these meetings is to engage with community partners in spreading awareness of pilot progress and initiatives.

Community Partner Discussion – August 4, 2022

View the meeting presentation here.

Watch the entire meeting here.

 

Community Lunch and Learn – December 6, 2021

Watch the meeting here.

 

Community Partner Discussion – November 30, 2021

View the meeting presentation here.

Watch the entire meeting here.

 

Contribute to the MIGreenPower Community Impact Pilot

Interested in contributing, or just want to learn more? Fill out this form and someone on our team will get back with you shortly. 

Download a one-page PDF with information on the project here.

 

Contributor Spotlight 

Check back to see some of the amazing people who have partnered with us on this project. 

 

Solar Council Meeting Minutes 

Review the latest meeting minutes from the Solar Council below.

February 6, 2024

January 16, 2024

December 19, 2023

December 5, 2023

November 7, 2023

October 17, 2023

October 3, 2023

September 18, 2023

September 5, 2023

August 15, 2023

August 1, 2023

July 18, 2023

June 20, 2023

May 23, 2023

May 2, 2023

April 18, 2023

April 4, 2023

March 21, 2023

March 15, 2023

March 7, 2023

February 28, 2023

February 21, 2023

February 7, 2023

January 25, 2023

December 6, 2022

November 15, 2022

November 1, 2022

September 20, 2022

August 16, 2022

August 2, 2022

July 19, 2022

June 24, 2022

June 7, 2022

May 17, 2022

May 5, 2022

April 19, 2022

April 5, 2022

March 22, 2022

March 8, 2022

February 22, 2022

January 28, 2022

January 11, 2022

December 14, 2021

November 30, 2021

November 9, 2021

October 12, 2021

September 28, 2021

September 14, 2021

August 24, 2021

August 10, 2021

July 20, 2021

July 8, 2021