Summary of Cincinnati Zoo Breaks Ground on Largest Publicly Accessible Urban Solar Array in the U.S.:
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has initiated construction on a new 2.8 MW solar array in its Euclid Ave parking lot, enhancing its contribution to renewable energy and providing shaded parking. This adds to their existing solar infrastructure, which, since 2011, has included a 1.56 MW array. The new project, set to be the largest publicly accessible urban solar array in the U.S., advances the Zoo’s ambition of achieving net-zero energy usage by 2025. The Zoo plans to donate surplus solar panels to their Community Solar Resiliency Program, benefiting local neighborhoods. Beyond local efforts, the Zoo is developing a large-scale solar array on its Warren County farm and supporting international sustainable projects in Kenya. The Zoo, deeply invested in sustainability, operates daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with more information on its website.
– The Cincinnati Zoo is propelling itself and the community towards a sustainable future by launching a new, groundbreaking 2.8 MW solar array.
– Proposed to be the largest urban solar project accessible to the public in the U.S., this initiative is a leap towards the Zoo’s Net Zero energy goals.
– The Euclid Ave parking lot solar array will support the Zoo’s power needs and provide vehicle shade.
– Beyond the boundaries of the Zoo, their green aspirations extend to sharing solar resources with local communities and international conservation partners.
– Additional environmental benefits include habitat creation for pollinators and the integration of livestock to maintain solar farm grounds.
Stepping onto the grounds of the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, a visitor might expect to marvel at exotic animals and florid gardens; what they might not anticipate is becoming witnesses to a green energy revolution. Under an Ohio morning’s brilliant, clear skies, shovels pierced the Earth to lay the groundwork for what promises to be a shining beacon of solar energy innovation.
In February 2024, the Cincinnati Zoo commenced the construction of a solar panel array unprecedented in urban America—a 2.8 MW capacity system sprawled atop the Euclid Ave parking lot. This initiative isn’t merely an upgrade to the existing 1.56 MW array sheltering the main parking lot since 2011; it’s a declaration of the Zoo’s steadfast commitment to paving the pathway for energy sustainability.
Why is a zoo, a haven for wildlife and botanical wonders, leading the charge in solar energy development? The answer lies in the delicate balance our ecosystems precariously hinge on. With each passing year, the clarion call for renewable energy sources grows louder, not merely as a matter of innovation but as a necessity for conservation.
Harnessing the sun’s power is an elegant solution to energy needs that transcends the boundaries of ecological responsibility. By turning to solar, the Cincinnati Zoo stands to slash its carbon footprint dramatically, contributing to a healthier planet and setting an example for its 1.8 million annual guests, both the bipedal and the quadrupedal.
But the story unfurling at the Cincinnati Zoo is more than a narrative of environmental stewardship—it’s a tale of community upliftment. Mark Fisher, the Zoo’s VP of facilities and sustainability, speaks of ambition and practical magic in equal measure. While solar technology is a marvel that has evolved rapidly, what truly astounds are the ways it’s being utilized for widespread benefit.
The additional array panel installation isn’t merely a landmark to power the Zoo; it is destined to become the life force for neighboring communities. With strategic foresight, Mark and his team opted to ship a full container of panels, leaving surplus panels that would light up educational and community centers around Cincinnati.
Imagine the ripple effect of this frank act—schools where young minds are expanded under the quiet, clean protection of solar power; churches where congregations come together in places safeguarded by the sun’s embrace; neighborhoods gleaning their energy from the very sky above them. This isn’t merely sharing power; it’s empowering sharing.
In the land-hugging undulations of Warren County, the Zoo’s sustainable ambitions take a more pastoral turn. Amidst these green expanses, sheep will soon graze alongside one of Southwest Ohio’s largest solar arrays, a 30 MW testament to the symbiosis between solar power and land stewardship. This isn’t just energy generation; it’s ecological harmony.
As pollinators dance over five acres of purposefully planted habitat surrounding the array, the message is clear: green energy is a gateway to environmental renaissance. It’s an idea that echoes back at the Zoo, where visitors will park under canopies of photovoltaic cells, perhaps dreaming of similar setups in their backyards.
The Cincinnati Zoo’s sustainable reach isn’t limited by geography. In the sweeping savannas of Kenya, a partnership with the South Rift Association of Land Owners (SORALO) blooms under the African sun. The shared goal? To introduce renewable energy into the community, ensuring that wildlife and people thrive together, powered by an inexhaustible and clean energy source.
As visitors tread along the Zoo’s pathways, they may navigate more than just exhibits of exotic creatures. They’re stepping through chapters of a story where sustainability is the spine. Bearers of a heartening message, the Zoo passionately iterates—that sustainability is accessible, achievable, and, indeed, necessary.
Open doors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Cincinnati Zoo extends an invitation to explore and be an integral part of this evolving green narrative. Through commitment and community, the promise of a net-zero future seems not just a lofty target but an attainable destination.
With its grounds now host to the largest publicly accessible urban solar array in the U.S., the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden has not only redefined the role of a zoo in the 21st century but also boldly illuminated the path forward for others to follow. Fueled by the sun, flourishing with fauna and flora, and forging ahead with community spirit—this is a Zoo leading by example, where the roar of conservation echoes as powerfully as the creatures it vows to protect.
Beneath the Ohio sun, history is being made, and the ground where children’s laughter mixes with animal calls is now bright with the glow of solar ingenuity. We find ourselves at a time when the definition of a sanctuary has expanded its scope—where a zoo becomes not just a conservation advocate but an epicenter of sustainability and a beacon for future generations.
As the day ebbs and the gates close, the solar panels above continue their quiet work, harvesting starlight. They are silent sentinels of hope, an emblem of the Zoo’s commitment to giving back—in energy, education, and conservation efforts. It’s a commitment embedded in the belief that true sustainability means a better home for all inhabitants of our planet—feathered, furry, or otherwise.
