Denver Community Solar Program

The city is installing 16 community solar gardens. This program aims to build, host and share the benefits of clean, renewable solar energy. McKinstry constructs the solar gardens. We also partner with GRID Alternatives Colorado to offer on-site job training.

Thanks to the Climate Protection Fund, these solar arrays will:

  • Power buildings with 100% renewable energy.
  • Provide shade and cooling during the summer months.
  • Donate electricity to families that need relief on their utility bills.

Once completed, these gardens will reduce emissions equal to taking 1,000 cars off the road.

Denver Botanic Gardens – Chatfield Farms

Denver is working with Denver Botanic Gardens and National Renewable Energy Laboratory to build and operate a community solar garden at Chatfield Farms. This site will to generate solar power and grow crops (called agrivoltaics). This project increases crop production, provides shade and reduces water usage. The annual energy production from these solar panels at the Chatfield Farms would be roughly 960,000 kWh.

This project is in progress and expected to be finished by summer 2024.  

Denver International Airport

We installed two solar gardens at the Denver International Airport. These gardens were completed in spring 2024, and will be operational in summer 2024.

Denver Parks and Recreation Sites

The city installed solar carports at several recreation centers. Visit the following locations to see these solar carports in action:

Denver Public Schools

Northeast Early College

The 309 kW solar carport with electric vehicle charging infrastructure was completed in October of 2023.

Upcoming Projects

The following locations will get solar panels as well as electric vehicle chargers. 100% of the energy generated from these sites will be donated to Denver Public School families to provide relief off their energy bills. 

  • Lincoln High School (Summer/Fall 2024)
  • Manual High School (Summer/Fall 2025)
  • Kennedy High School (Summer/Fall 2025)
  • Jefferson High School (Summer/Fall 2025)
  • North High School (Summer/Fall 2025)

National Western Center

The National Western Center has two community solar gardens thanks to this program. These gardens were installed in October of 2022. 

Roslyn Campus Maintenance Facilities

Thanks to this program, DOTI's Roslyn Campus Maintenance Facility has a solar array producing 655,000 kWh per year. We completed this project in spring 2024, and it has been operational as of April, 2024.

A wide view of solar panels acting as shade over parking spots

A view of a raised solar array from the ground