Solar Panels are on the Convention Cetner

Yesterday I saw it with my own eyes. Finally, after years of work and having to revamp and restucture a 2 million dollar state grant, solar panels are now actually up on the Convention Center. A press conference held yesterday yeilded some media coverage here or here if you want to see a picture as well.



The installation will be the Upper Midwest’s largest solar photovoltaic system. The solar array, which has 403 of its 2,613 panels installed, will connect directly to the convention center’s internal electrical system and produce 750,000 kWh of renewable energy per year when completed. The system, being built by a local development team led by Best Power International and Westwood Professional Services, will produce the equivalent of powering 85 homes annually, while offsetting 539 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions (the amount given off by 60,587 gallons of gasoline). In a unique and somewhat complex agreement, the photovoltaic systems will be owned by Best Power, which will lease the roof for the system from the City of Minneapolis. The City will lock into a long-term contract with a fixed energy cost as a hedge against future energy price increases.