On September 28, the City of Asheville “flipped the switch” on the photovoltaic array, commonly known as solar panels, at the Broadway Public Safety Station on Broadway Street. This building is in the final stages of construction and even though not officially open yet, it is producing solar energy. This is the seventh City facility to include renewable energy production, the first being the Transit Station on Coxe Avenue.
Installation of the solar panels supports Council’s strategic goal of A Clean and Healthy Environment and the 100% Renewable Energy Initiative.
The Broadway Public Safety Station will produce approximately 77,386 kilowatt hours per year, enough electricity to power 7 homes.
The electricity generated from the panels will be utilized onsite. When the solar panels produce more electricity than the building needs, that energy will be sent back to the grid in exchange for credits. At night, or at times when the solar panels are under-producing, the City will pull energy from the grid and use these credits to offset the costs of that energy. This is known as a “net-metered” system.
Want to follow along and see how much energy this and the rest of the City’s solar panels are producing? Check out our real-time monitoring web page!
For more information on Sustainability initiatives, please visit ashevillenc.gov/sustainability