Viewing Grant Proposal: DTE Electric-Community Solar in Detroit

DTE proposal doesn’t tell the real truth behind cost to customers for the Green energy. Their proposal raises costs for consumers considerably by charging 2 times more than the standard electric distribution which customers like myself can’t afford. Customers are not automatically placed in DTE solar program they have to enroll into it at the higher cost than standard electric not to mention that Solar panels and batteries are not environmentally friendly but quite the opposite highly flammable and toxic to the environment along with the Wind turbines killing wildlife and needing more the 5 times the minerals to construct.

As a lifelong resident of the City of Detroit and a senior committed to reducing my carbon footprint and energy costs, I strongly support the DTE Electric–Community Solar Pilot Project grant request. Over the years, I’ve made significant investments to lower my energy use—including weatherizing my 73-year-old home by insulating my attic, blowing insulation into my walls, and upgrading to energy-efficient appliances—and have seen the benefits of reduced utility bills. However, with energy costs continuing to rise, projects like this community solar initiative are essential. They provide low-income Detroiters—including seniors like me on fixed incomes—access to 100% renewable energy and monthly bill credits that offer real financial relief. This pilot not only promotes clean energy but also brings equity to communities that need it most. I urge the Michigan Public Service Commission to approve funding for this critical and timely initiative.

As a college student in Detroit who is concerned about the climate crisis, I strongly support the DTE Electric–Community Solar Pilot Project. This program makes renewable energy accessible to low-income residents and students like me who care about sustainability but can't afford solar panels or high energy bills. It's critical that the Michigan Public Service Commission approve this grant and prioritize equitable access to clean energy for future generations. Please fund this important pilot.

I live in a Detroit neighborhood where too many people have to choose between paying their electric bill and buying groceries. I have worked steadily 2 and 3 jobs at a time to support myself and my family my entire adult life. I am grateful I can drive for Uber and deliver groceries for Instacart after I get off my job as a dental assistant to make extra money to make ends meet. I did not go to college for a full 4 year degree, but I did complete one year at Wayne County Community College, got my dental assistant certification and worked hard so my children could have opportunities I did not. It is hard for young people starting out to get an apartment or buy a house, pay their student loans, buy groceries and pay their utility bills in this economy. I help my adult children pay their DTE bill and water bill because they have student loans. This grant can change that. The community solar pilot will give struggling families renewable energy and real cost savings. I know it would help me and my family. It's the kind of investment Detroit needs. I support this project and ask the Michigan Public Service Commission to give substantial grant funds to this DTE Electric-Community Solar Pilot Project in Detroit. Thank you for your consideration.

I'm a senior on a fixed income. I was born and raised in Detroit. I've seen my city go from prosperity to intense poverty over the last seven decades. The MIGreenPower Community Impact Pilot by DTE Energy is a commendable initiative that not only promotes renewable energy but also addresses the critical issue of energy affordability for low-income households in Detroit. I support the Michigan Public Service Commission providing renewable energy E IED grant funds for this pilot program as soon as possible at the maximum amount.

I am excited to learn that DTE is partnering with the MIGreenPower Community Impact Pilot to develop a solar power park in the city of Detroit. This project has the opportunity to show residents in Detroit how solar power can reduce their energy bills lower while contributing to a cleaner Detroit environment. I have worked in the energy business for over 35 years and Detroit is my hometown, therefore, I favor a project like this and I hope the additional funding and other requirements are met to get the project approved in 2025 and start the buildout in 2026. Good things are happening in Detroit; this project could be another example of that.

As a young adult trying to build a future in Detroit, I support the DTE Community Solar Pilot Project. Clean, renewable energy should not be a luxury—it should be accessible to all. This project will give low-income residents an opportunity to lower their bills and participate in climate solutions. Please approve this funding.

As a retired urban planner for the city of Detroit, I am glad to see Detroit deploying solar initiatives in a forward-thinking manner to decarbonize municipal buildings and lower the city's energy costs. In 2022, the city of Detroit launched the solar neighborhood initiatives seeking block clubs and community groups to host solar ground mounted PV project fields to power city buildings. The plan announced by the mayor aims to fight blight and illegal dumping, curb climate change by creating clean, renewable energy to power municipal buildings, and provide benefits to households in the neighborhoods who choose to bring solar. I also support the MIGreenPower Community Impact Pilot that seeks to offer monthly bill credits to selected customers who are at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and request the MPSC to provide the requested EIED grant funding to DTE Energy’s Pilot Project to construct a community solar park in the city of Detroit so they can take proactive steps to ensure that renewable energy benefits are accessible to all, regardless of income level. Detroit is one of the most racially segregated cities in the United States. However, due to its being the automobile capital of the world, black auto worker ownership of single-family homes in Detroit was the highest in the nation. Over the last decades, black home ownership numbers have greatly declined. Thousands of formerly black occupied homes have been demolished as the city's focus has been primarily on downtown redevelopment and gentrification. Attrition of the black political power of the era of Detroit mayor Coleman young stemmed from the demolition of vacant tax and mortgage foreclosed homes and unaffordably high utility rate increases. Detroit has been spared all the bad weather this country is now experiencing, due to global warming. Those who have been victimized by hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, and fires are according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), HUD is considering moving to Detroit rather than rebuilding in areas where they can no longer receive nor afford home insurance. Detroit is experiencing an influx of weather refugees who have endured financial hardships caused by climate change. The development of solar powered communities can easily be accomplished upon the vastly vacant, weather-safe parcels in Detroit. The incentive of reduced utility costs via solar power will promote needed residential redevelopment in Detroit. For that reason, I support the DTE Energy City of Detroit Community Solar Park Pilot Project grant proposal for the benefit of low-income residents.

I am a native Detroiter, I live in Detroit and I fully support the MIGreenPower Community Impact Pilot and urged the Michigan Public Service Commission to approve the DTE Electric City of Detroit Community Solar Park grant proposal to provide the necessary funding to ensure success. Investing in initiatives like these not only improves energy affordability but also fosters a more sustainable and equitable future for Detroit residents who experience a high rate of poverty. The Low-Income Solar Council is doing a great thing working towards environmental justice for Detroit residents. Detroiters have long faced high utility bills, aging infrastructure, and environmental injustice. This grant is a chance to change that. The solar pilot puts clean energy in the hands of those who need it most. Let’s not miss this opportunity.

I’ve been a plumber for nearly two decades, and throughout my career, I’ve seen how the right technology can reduce both utility costs and environmental impact. I’ve installed high-efficiency toilets, tankless water heaters, and water-saving showerheads and faucets because these fixtures and appliances can significantly reduce water and energy consumption, saving both money and resources. These fixtures use innovative design features, such as aerators and flow restrictors, to maintain adequate water pressure while minimizing wastage. By incorporating low-flow fixtures, residential homeowners and businesses can save water, reduce energy required for water heating, and lower utility costs. That’s why I’m writing to express my strong support for DTE’s Community Solar Pilot Project under the 2025 EIED Grant Proposal. As someone who works hands-on with infrastructure that affects energy use, I know how critical it is to give people access to clean, efficient options. Community solar provides a smart and inclusive opportunity for Detroit residents—especially renters and low-income households who can't install solar themselves—to benefit from renewable energy and reduced bills. This project will expand energy equity while supporting Michigan’s sustainability goals. I urge the Michigan Public Service Commission to fund this pilot and bring affordable solar power to more Detroiters.