Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Effective Thursday, thousands of solar panels are reducing the Salt Palace electric bill by about 20 percent in the culmination of a project that started over four years ago.
"It's the largest rooftop solar project in Utah, and one of the largest in the United States," said Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon.
It produces 1.65 megawatts of power from the Sun. That amount of electricity can meet the needs of 250 homes every year. In a place the size of the Salt Palace, the cost savings is huge.
"It'll save money, it'll generate clean energy and will service as an example of the solar possibilities in Utah," Corroon said.
This solar array is made up of 6,006 individual panels, which cover nearly 4 acres of space - basically the entire roof of the Salt Palace.
The project began in 2008, and cost about $6 million. It's public-private partnership, involving several entities that worked together to finance, build, own and maintain. A number of tax credits and grants also help offset costs.
A solar project of this size, on a public building, certainly sends a message. For one, that it can be done, and two, that solar is becoming more affordable.
The price of installed systems is perhaps half of what it was four years ago. Looking forward, it could be half of what it is now in just a few years,"
Mayor Corroon has set a goal of installing 10-Megawatts of solar power on county-owned facilities. The Salt Palace is now one of nine buildings with roof top systems.
