HONOLULU — Mayor Rick Blangiardi, metropolis leaders and business companions broke floor Tuesday for an $11 million challenge to put in greater than 4,500 large-format photovoltaic panels atop the parking construction of the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.
A “photo voltaic cover” will cowl your complete higher deck of the construction offering shade for parking whereas producing almost 100% of the Blaisdell Center’s each day power wants. In addition, a Tesla Megapack battery will likely be put in to assist retailer power throughout nighttime occasions.
“By beginning this challenge to generate renewable power on-site on the Blaisdell campus, we’re saving cash, creating native jobs and assembly the clear power objectives that town wholeheartedly embraces,” mentioned Blangiardi in a information launch. “This challenge completely blends our dedication to modernizing town’s operations with our promise to be higher stewards of our local weather sooner or later, and we’re excited to have a good time immediately’s groundbreaking with our group. “
Director of Enterprise Services Dita Holifield added, “We’re excited for individuals to be ok with our occasions, realizing they’re powered by renewable power whereas additionally saving cash for metropolis operations. on the Blaisdell Center.”
As a part of a $43.6 million renovation challenge starting in May 2023, work on power effectivity enhancements and lighting enhancements continues at Blaisdell. When mixed with the brand new photovoltaic system, these center-wide enhancements are anticipated to have a major impression on Blaisdell’s power use.
Design rendering of the photovoltaic system to be put in on high of the Neal S. Blaisdell Center parking facility. (Courtesy of Johnson Controls Inc.)
“We are taking an strategy to decreasing power use first, by bettering power effectivity throughout the campus, after which assessing how a lot renewable power can be utilized within the area out there on high of the parking construction. in Blaisdell,” mentioned Program Administrator Allyn Lee, Mechanical & Electrical Division of the City’s Department of Design and Construction.
Officials say the City and County of Honolulu will not be paying for the $11 million challenge. Instead, town will buy power from the photo voltaic panels at about one-third lower than the utility charge, producing financial savings with no capital price from taxpayers.
The set up is a part of town’s $100 million Energy Conservation Measure Project at the moment underway at 82 metropolis amenities that features photo voltaic photovoltaic and different conservation measures.
When accomplished, the photo voltaic PV cover atop the Blaisdell parking construction “will generate renewable power electrical manufacturing of roughly 3,900,000 kWh per yr.” According to the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, this equates to 2,794 metric tons of carbon dioxide prevented and the greenhouse gasoline emissions from:
- 665 gasoline-powered passenger automobiles pushed in a yr
- 7,146,766 miles pushed in a typical gasoline-powered car
- 314,432 gallons of gas had been consumed
- 551 homes have electrical energy in a single yr
- 6,470 barrels of oil had been consumed
- 184,474,425 smartphones had been charged
“Such initiatives not solely make operational sense, however in addition they implement town’s Climate Action Plan,” mentioned Matthew Gonser, government director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resilience.
“This administration stays dedicated to tackling the direct reason for local weather change – carbon air pollution – whereas additionally bettering authorities providers and supporting the community-wide clear power and transportation transition. .”
