FranklinWH announced it will begin installing solar+storage systems in participating homes in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as part of a pilot program led by the Ann Arbor Sustainable Energy Utility (A2SEU).
It marks the first time a U.S. city-owned utility has purchased and deployed residential solar and battery systems for behind-the-meter energy use.
The opt-in program is available to residents in Ann Arbor’s Bryant neighborhood, where many households spend more than one-third of their income on utility bills. By pairing rooftop solar with battery storage, the program aims to reduce energy costs while improving resilience at the household and community level.
“Ann Arbor is showing how cities can play a leading role in advancing local energy solutions,” said Gary Lam, CEO and cofounder of FranklinWH, in a statement. “It reflects how cities and utilities are increasingly using local programs to improve reliability and manage energy demand.”
Approximately 150 homes will be equipped with the FranklinWH System, including the aPower S battery, with the project expected to expand to 1,000 homes in 2027.
Rooftop solar installations will be provided by Michigan Solar Solutions, Homeland Solar, and Oak Electric Service, while Texture’s distributed energy management software will aggregate the systems into a coordinated utility-scale resource.
Shoshannah Lenski, executive director of A2SEU, added, “Paired with local solar generation, these systems will help us deliver more reliable, resilient energy across our community.”
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