SE Valley Times

Mesa Main Library is set to receive solar panel canopies, providing covered parking for visitors and increasing energy generation capacity. The installation of fencing on January 30 will affect parking availability and sidewalks.

The first phase of construction begins on February 3, with library parking accessible only from Centennial Street. Temporary ADA parking spots will be available near the Centennial Street entrance. Construction is expected to continue through March.

This project is part of a Mesa City Council initiative to install over 2,000 kilowatts of solar panels at four downtown locations. The initiative aims to create additional locally generated energy for electric system resiliency, diversify the city's energy supply to reduce high electric market pricing effects, support renewable energy goals, and provide shaded parking for approximately 660 spaces downtown.

Other projects are located at the City's Sixth Street campus: Charles K. Luster Building at 640 N. Mesa Drive; Transportation Building at 600 E. 6th St.; Solid Waste Division and Electric Meter Shop at 730 N. Mesa Drive.

In recent years, several solar generation projects have been installed by the city to generate power for its electric utility. These include installations at the Mesa City Hall parking lot, Mesa Municipal Building parking lot, ASU MIX Center rooftop, and the City of Mesa ice rink building rooftop.

Solar panel canopies have also been added in parking lots of City of Mesa buildings within SRP's service territory to lower utility bills. These locations include Red Mountain Library, Red Mountain Center, Fiesta Police Substation, and Fire Station 212.