Solar Panel Construction To Begin On Boulder Facilities

BOULDER, CO — New solar panels will be installed in Boulder over the next few months, city officials announced. The panels will bring 2.5 megawatts of solar power to 14 city facilities.

Dubbed 'Generation Solar,' the project will generate enough power for more than 600 homes, the city said.

The initiative, which is a collaboration between the city, Unico Solar Investors and Namasté Solar, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation. The panels are expected to save the city $1.5 million over the next three decades, officials said.

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Two of the facilities that will receive the solar panels are downtown parking garages at 1500 Pearl St. and at 1100 Spruce St. Both garages will have the added benefit of covered rooftop parking when complete, the city said.

The city is working to ensure limited impact to businesses during the busy holiday season, officials said.

“We’re really excited to see this project come to fruition over the next few months,” Yael Gichon, senior energy project manager for the city, said in a statement. “It’s going to have a significant impact on local renewable energy generation goals, getting us closer to the goals we set in our 2016 Climate Commitment.”

Other city facilities in the project include multiple fire stations and recreation centers.

“The City of Boulder has established itself as a national leader in sustainability and renewable energy, and we’ve enjoyed collaborating with city staff to bring these projects to life,” Adam Knoff, associate director and co-founder of Unico Solar, said in a statement. “We’re eager to begin the construction phase and look forward to providing the city with locally generated, low-cost, renewable electricity.”

Construction is expected to begin in November and wrap up in April, the city said.