Summary:

A new Thomas Jefferson Solar Canopy installed at the top level of the parking structure at Mount Rushmore National Memorial will provide half the electricity used by the gift shop and restaurant at the famous site.

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Main Article:

Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the Black Hills of South Dakota will have the second largest solar installation in the state. The new Thomas Jefferson Solar Canopy was installed by park concessioner Xanterra Travel Collection which operates the parking facility.  The photovoltaic array on the top level of the parking structure will generate over half of the electricity used by the gift shop and restaurant at Mount Rushmore. A ribbon cutting is being held today, on Earth Day, April, 22, 2019.

Six electric vehicle charging stations are planned to be installed within the next month that will be free for visitors to use. There is a fee to park at Mount Rushmore National Memorial which is valid for the calendar year issued.

The 346 kW capacity solar array includes 975 solar panels mounted on a carport structure on the top level of the western parking garage. “As many of Xanterra’s national park operations are literally at the end of the electric transmission line, renewable energy options such as solar provide us with reliable power while also decreasing our overall carbon emissions,” said Andrew Todd, President and CEO of Xanterra.

The solar structure is estimated to reduce existing greenhouse gas emissions by 24 percent, which is the equivalent of taking 30 passenger vehicles off the road each year. When parking vehicles under the array, visitors are protected from the elements while catching unobstructed views of the Memorial. This is due to the distinct angular design of the 975 solar panels atop the carport. The project is estimated to save the park over $40,000 in energy costs annually.

Other new features include a free tire-inflation station for visitors so their vehicles can maintain better fuel economy and bicycle lockers for those who pedal their way to Mount Rushmore.

All the improvements support Mount Rushmore National Memorial’s status as a climate-friendly park. This status indicates that the National Park Service, Xanterra and other park partners are carrying out a climate-action plan focused on sustainability, energy reduction, waste management, water usage and other best practices, according to a news release from Xanterra.

Xanterra is focused on the challenge of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions as part of its overall commitment to operate with a softer footprint. The company’s 2025 corporate sustainability goals include using 5 percent less energy annually and reducing carbon emissions by 50 percent between 2014 and 2025, said Andrew N. Todd, Xanterra’s president and CEO.