Real Salt Lake goes solar in big way

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Apr 7, 2015

Real Salt Lake's Rio Tinto Stadium has partnered with Auric Solar to install a solar array at the Sandy, Utah, venue. The 2,020-kilowatt system of solar panels will be installed on the existing stadium structure as well as new covered parking areas nearby and will offset 73 percent of RSL's total annual stadium power needs, making it the largest offset in pro sports in North America.

The project will also be Utah's largest privately owned solar array and the fourth largest array at American sports facilities after Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field and Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania.

Rio Tinto Stadium's solar array will be double net largest array in MLS, Gillette Stadium's 1,000-kilowatt system. Rio Tinto Stadium is also the home of the USL Real Monarchs in 2015.

"We are partnering with Auric Solar to increase our power efficiency while hosting more than 50 massive events each year in Sandy," said RSL and Monarchs owner Dell Loy Hansen. "The new solar covered parking structures will improve the quality of parking options for our 15,000-plus season ticket holders and provide our state and the surrounding environment with the largest solar energy offset for any U.S. professional sports venue."