The city of Ann Arbor, Michigan has finished construction its largest solar project to date, municipal officials say, with its new solar plant at Steere Farm Wells.

Located on the south side of the city, the 480 kWac solar asset is part of Ann Arbor’s citywide initiative to fully power all municipal operations with some form of renewable energy. Steere Farm is one of the city’s top 10 electricity users, officials say, as it pumps water uphill to the Water Treatment Facility, which in turn the city uses to keep water moving and clean.

“There were a lot of moving pieces,” says Simi Barr, a senior analyst for municipal operations at the city’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI). “It took collaboration between many city staff and departments, along with external consultants and contractors in order to ensure we designed a system that would serve the intended purpose without jeopardizing the city’s critical water infrastructure.”

The new installation is the latest in a long line for the city of Ann Arbor, representatives say, and comes after months of internal collaboration. The OSI partnered with both Ann Arbor Water and the City of Ann Arbor Information Technology department for the installation, and also funded the project in accordance with the city’s ‘A2ZERO’ carbon neutrality program.

Slow, but sure decarbonization

The city of Ann Arbor has lofty goals for the end of the decade, as laid out in its A2ZERO laws. The city says that by 2030, it wants to see a “just and equitable transition to carbon neutrality” or, at the very least, associated plans for such a transition. The Steere Farm Wells solar project was just one piece of the real puzzle, officials say.

“In 2025, solar arrays went online at two more city facilities, solar carports were installed at Veterans Memorial Park, an electric pursuit vehicle was added to the Ann Arbor Police department fleet, four all-electric refuse trucks began collection, and several other actions were taken to reduce the city’s carbon footprint,” the city says. “More is slated to happen in 2026, including the creation of at least three more solar arrays, further electrification of the city’s fleet, and the opening of Ann Arbor’s first net-zero fire station.”

Alongside its energy initiatives, the city of Ann Arbor has also adopted a “circular economy” program and other environmentally forward innovations. The city also expedites solar permitting for most residential projects, according to municipal representatives.

Tags: commercial and industrial, Michigan, project, sustainability