Glacier National Park adds solar-powered energy to headquarters
KALISPELL, Mont. — Glacier National Park officials met on Wednesday, to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for their HQ Solar Project.
With the help of Everybody Solar, a non-profit aimed at providing solar power, the parks headquarters were outfitted with solar panels on the roof, totaling 34.35 kW of energy.
The park added solar powered energy to their headquarters to better foster sustainable and green practices.
"When people visit the National Parks, they think green is already there, and of course, it's being conserved and of course they're being sustainable, but that may not be the case, and so helping to open that conversation and to lead the way for the future is definitely part of our plans," said Myriam Scally, director of Operations and Development for Everybody Solar.
According to Scally, to date the solar panels installed a year ago have generated 28,000 kilowatt hours of electricity, equivalent to offsetting 40,000 pounds of Co2, preventing that from entering the atmosphere. Without solar panels that would have took planting 293 trees every year.
These solar panels not only benefit the park, but the millions of visitors who visit the park every year.
Along with not emitting Co2, the park has been able to save over $2,000 per year, on their electricity bill to where that money can be put towards educational programs, trail upkeep and matienence according to Scally.
Although, the headquarters project is complete Everybody Solar, said they’re not done just yet, they hope to continue teaming up with GNP to highlight other areas around the park that can benefit from solar power, but they hope to see this technology not only in GNP but national parks around the country.
