A new community center in Detroit’s Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood has been built to provide climate refuge during emergencies like power outages, heat waves or floods. The Community Center at A. B. Ford Park is part of the first three networks of resiliency hubs on the eastside of Detroit. The facility includes a 70-kilowatt solar array with a backup battery and generator, which can provide up to 72 hours of power. Ryter Cooperative, a Black-owned company, was the primary solar contractor and the project also served as a training opportunity for local contractors to install solar arrays. The new $7.9 million community center features a welcome desk, a library, multipurpose classroom, flexible space for indoor sports, exercise classes or parties, and a large community event and meeting space. The surrounding green space will be transformed into a new park by 2024 with playgrounds for different ages.
Solar Dominates US Energy Capacity Growth
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has published data showing that solar accounted for over 75% of US electrical generating
