$3M federal earmark to help Ann Arbor affordable housing sites go solar – MLive.com
The Creekside Court Community Center at 3425 Platt Road in Ann Arbor on June 25, 2021. Community Action Network operates the new center on the Ann Arbor Housing Commission site.Jacob Hamilton | The Ann Arbor News
ANN ARBOR, MI — Federal funds are coming to Ann Arbor to help affordable housing sites go solar.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, helped secure a $3 million earmark for the city in a recent federal funding bill signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The money is expected to help transition Ann Arbor Housing Commission apartment sites “to nearly net-zero-energy sites that ensure safe, healthy and comfortable housing for residents in need,” according to the city’s funding proposal.
That includes installing rooftop solar arrays and backup batteries, deep energy-efficiency improvements, upgraded electrical systems, transitioning away from gas to electric appliances and adding shared public electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
“We are extremely lucky and thankful that Rep. Dingell advocated for funding for our properties and we look forward to making improvements that are healthy for our residents, healthy for our operations and healthy for the environment,” Housing Commission Executive Director Jennifer Hall said.
City leaders are now strategizing how to prioritize the $3 million, since the city’s funding request was for $7.5 million for 10 sites.
Hall said she plans to discuss strategy next week with Missy Stults, the city’s sustainability office director. Hall’s initial plan is to add solar to the commission’s two newest properties — State Street Crossing and Creekside Court on Platt Road — because they are already highly energy-efficient and solar-ready with all the infrastructure in place, she said, estimating that would use up about $600,000-$700,000 of the funds.
“Our next priority will be to analyze our remaining properties to determine what upgrades will be the most impactful and we will prioritize properties based on the highest impact,” she said, noting the city also will look to leverage additional dollars to complete as much as possible.
The city’s 2030 A2Zero carbon-neutrality plan envisions transitioning buildings throughout the city away from reliance on fossil fuels through electrification and renewable energy. In addition to the city’s own municipal buildings, city leaders are looking to residents, businesses and others to do their part.
Ann Arbor partners with nonprofit to launch program to help residents electrify homes
“We are really excited to see these projects move forward,” Stults said of upgrades to Housing Commission sites, calling it an exciting moment to manifest the city’s goals.
Some of the sites under consideration include Miller Manor on Miller Avenue, Lurie Terrace on Huron Street, the Hikone complex off Packard Road, Green Baxter Court on Green Road, Maple Meadows on South Maple Road, West Arbor on North Maple Road, Broadway Terrace on Broadway Street and Hillside Manor on Pennsylvania Avenue.
Many tenants make less than 30% of the area median income, including seniors and people with disabilities and other special needs, the Housing Commission notes.
“This project would allow ten supportive and affordable housing projects with 463 apartments housing more than 1,000 community members in the city of Ann Arbor to transition to net-zero-energy facilities or net-zero-energy-ready facilities,” the proposal states. “By doing this, we will be creating a replicable model while also making immediate gains towards our climate goals, lower operational costs at our housing sites which frees up resources to invest in capital improvements and services for housing commission tenants, improve indoor air quality and comfort for our tenants, put more dollars directly into the local economy, and advance our goals around equity and justice.”
The city is asking voters in November to approve a 20-year tax to implement more A2Zero climate-action measures.
MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS:
Plans for a new Ypsilanti Transit Center get $300K federal funding boost
Officials seek $2M grant to bring solar energy, home upgrades to Ann Arbor neighborhood
Ann Arbor planning $8.5M project to power major city facilities with solar
Ann Arbor dimming city lights to raise awareness about climate change
Ann Arbor council divided 9-2 on $600K contract with new lobbyist
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