Urban Flourishing: BioSolar’s Effects on Urban Heat Islands & Implications for Equity and Gentrification

Abstract

In partnerships with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, the University of Minnesota’s Resilient Communities Project, and Macalester College, the Minnesota Metropolitan Council sought to support its Surface with Purpose tool, an application that projects the potential benefits of green roofs, solar photovoltaic panels and integrated BioSolar systems on public and commercial properties. The team from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs addressed two research questions that sought to further develop this tool: (1) To what extent do BioSolar systems impact the Urban Heat Island Effect? (2) What equity and gentrification considerations are important for policymakers to keep in mind when designing BioSolar System policies? Are BioSolar systems on commercial and public properties associated with an increased likelihood of surrounding neighborhoods to gentrify? To answer these questions, the Humphrey School team conducted a literature review and key informant interviews on topics related to BioSolar elements (green roofs and solar photovoltaic panels), urban heat islands, and gentrification. To support this research in a Twin Cities context, the team also performed spatial analyses on urban heat islands and gentrification within the Metropolitan Council’s jurisdiction. Lastly, the team conducted an exploratory econometric analysis of gentrification as it related to BioSolar elements within the Twin Cities area.