Stadium First To Be Solar Powered

Solar panels have been installed at Clear Channel Stadium in Lancaster making it the first minor league ballpark in the state to power itself by the sun. The 340-kilowatt carport-mounted system is expected to generate nearly 100 percent of the stadium’s energy use and save the owners up to $48,000 in the first year of operation. The stadium is one of six sites in the city that will go solar as part of the Solar Lancaster program. Other sites include City Hall and the Lancaster Performing Arts Center. The city teamed up with SolarCity to provide both businesses and residences access to financing, installation and monitoring of solar panels. The program not only helps achieve the goal of the city becoming the energy capital of the world but also creates jobs in hard hit industries, said Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris. “Clear Channel Stadium is the first of many City of Lancaster projects that will contribute to a greener city, a greener California and a greener nation,” Parris said.