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Salt Lake City center to host largest rooftop solar array

The planned solar facility would produce around a quarter of the power supply for the Salt Palace convention center (photo: Adam Barker)

Two Colorado companies have won a contract to develop one of the largest rooftop solar facilities in the US.

NexGen Energy and Bella Energy will build a 2.6 megawatt solar power array on the roof of the Calvin L Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center in downtown Salt Lake City.

The firms beat 10 others to win the contract from Salt Lake City County.

The Salt Palace facility is expected to supply around 25% of the building’s electricity demand, generating more than 3.3 million kilowatt-hours of power each year.

Construction is expected to begin later this year.

Ted Rose, Vice President of NexGen Energy, said: “With a ground-breaking public-private partnership driving it, this project will place Utah at the forefront of solar development. It proves once again that large rooftops can successfully provide power from the sun that benefits both the environment and the bottom line.”

Deal

Denver-based Bella Energy will design and install the project, while Boulder company NexGen Energy will own and operate the facility, selling power to Salt Lake County at a fixed rate through a 20-year power purchase agreement.

Under the arrangements, NexGen will retain renewable energy credits from the project.

The deal includes an option for the county to purchase the solar project outright in its eighth year.

“Bella Energy has worked diligently to make the project a reality,” said Andrew McKenna, Vice President of Bella Energy. “Our three decades of experience in solar installation will serve Salt Lake County well. Bella Energy is committed to growing Utah’s distributed solar generation and will employ as many as 35 local workers and subcontractors during the construction of this project.”