ALBANY, N.Y.—Concert goers and sports fans in upstate New York are bound to get a charge out of this news! Albany County officials marked Earth Day last month by celebrating the completion of a 1.06-megawatt solar array atop the MVP Arena parking garage, a project expected to generate significant energy savings and expand renewable energy use in the region. Daniel P. McCoy, county executive, joined local leaders and project partners for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 24 at the downtown Albany venue. MVP Arena is a multipurpose facility that has hosted a variety of events, including concerts, family shows, and sports, averaging 165 events each year.
The solar installation is expected to generate 1,157,693 kilowatt-hours of electricity during its first year of operation. The amount of energy would be enough to power more than 1,000 homes, fully charge a standard electric vehicle 17,000 times, or charge more than 500,000 smartphones.
The project is projected to save Albany County more than $154,000 annually.
“This project delivers on our commitment to renewable energy while generating substantial savings for county residents,” McCoy says. “The MVP Arena solar installation sets a powerful example for other public facilities across the region and demonstrates how we can achieve both sustainability and cost-efficiency.”
The installation is among the largest solar projects at a sports and entertainment venue in the Capital Region and supports New York state clean energy initiatives.
“We’re proud to support Albany County’s commitment to sustainability with this innovative solar installation at MVP Arena,” says Bob Belber, general manager of MVP Arena for Legends Global, which manages the venue. “As a venue that serves the community, we’re honored to play a role in advancing renewable energy in the Capital Region.”
County officials also announced the next phase of the sustainability project, which is expected to be completed by the end of April, and will add 52 Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations to the parking garage.
The EV charging infrastructure will include 32 charging stations designated for the county fleet on the garage’s lower level, along with four public charging stations on each floor. The garage also has infrastructure in place to support future expansion to eight charging stations per floor.
MVP Arena hosts concerts, sporting events, and family entertainment shows in downtown Albany, and is managed by Legends Global.
