A bright future ahead for Rio Tinto Stadium and the community.
Major League Soccer is busy working with ownership and cities across the country to build new stadiums for the growing league and fan base. This week, the ownership group Real Salt Lake flipped the switch on solar with one of the most
impressive solar displays in the country—the largest solar array in Utah:
Rio Tinto Stadium's 2,020-kilowatt system of solar panels installed on the existing stadium structure as well as new covered parking areas nearby are now operational to offset 73 percent of Real Salt Lake's total annual stadium power needs. It's the largest offset among North American professional sports and entertainment venues. The ambitious project was initiated back in April, took six months to complete and includes enough solar panels to cover a soccer field.
Incredible! More than 70% of Rio Tinto stadium's power needs will be met with the new solar installation. Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen says the solar project is more than just a cost-saving measure, it is a chance to act on his values:
The chance to really act on your value structure—I believe I should leave the world a better place than how I found it. That my grandkids should have a better environment. So, I'm committed to that. That they have a better life than I had. This is one of those peak moments when you act on that promise.
See a brief video of the stellar solar operation at Rio Tinto and hear more from Dell Loy Hansen on why it was so important for the team and the community: