ANN ARBOR, MI — Ann Arbor is advancing plans for a 24-megawatt solar farm in Pittsfield Township under a “community solar” model allowing community members to buy into it to support renewable energy.

City Council voted unanimously this week to OK a development agreement with the township for the huge installation at the City’s Wheeler Center maintenance facility property just south of the city off Ellsworth and Stone School roads.

The plan includes 65 acres of ground-mounted solar panels and 12 acres of floating panels on a pond behind the facility.

Under a deal the city worked out with DTE Energy, it would be a community solar pilot program available to DTE customers under the company’s MIGreenPower program, Deputy City Attorney Tim Wilhelm told council.