Stone Zoo in Stoneham, Massachusetts, has just powered on a 725-kW solar project. The solar system, installed by Solect Energy with support from SolarKal, should provide 95% of the power used by the zoo, which is managed by Zoo New England.

The 1,500-panel array was constructed in the existing zoo parking lot.

“The solar canopy project at the Stone Zoo will have a substantial impact on reducing the zoo’s carbon footprint, while saving money, and serving as an example of solar solutions at work to the Zoo’s many visitors,” Yaniv Kalish, CEO of SolarKal said.

One of the primary goals with this project was to demonstrate the use of this technology with the hundreds of thousands of people that visit Stone Zoo annually. Through this project, the zoo hopes to educate and inspire business and homeowners to use their parking lots and rooftops to help reduce the production of greenhouse gasses.

“We are absolutely thrilled that the solar array project is now complete and generating clean energy. Conservation is the cornerstone of our mission, and this project is in perfect alignment with our work to preserve and protect wildlife and habitats, while creating a more sustainable future for us all,” said John Linehan, President and CEO of Zoo New England. “Nature has great healing capacity and, if given the chance, can be very effective in combating the negative impacts of climate change. This clean energy project and others like it can be part of the climate solution.”

The project was made possible with the help of State Senator Jason Lewis and State Representative Michael Day, who successfully secured $3 million for the Stone Zoo solar array project in 2021 from the Commonwealth.

News item from SolarKal