Selby Gardens flips switch on solar panel array - Your Observer

Selby Gardens flips switch on solar panel array | Your Observer

- June 28, 2024

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It's been a project far more complex than the flip of a switch — but flipping a switch was still a major step involved.

After unveiling Phase One of its master plan in January, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens celebrated the activation of the 50,000-square-foot solar array located atop and designed to power the Morganroth Family Living Energy Access Facility.

Bringing together various parties involved in the project including staff, board members, supporters and contractors, in addition to campers from Selby Gardens’ Camp Lookout, the event, held June 27, honored the occasion with the ceremonial flipping of a switch.

“It’s really exhilarating to be at this moment,” said Jennifer Rominiecki, president and CEO of Selby Gardens. “It took a lot of effort to plan for this, but as of today, Selby Gardens will be home to the first net-positive energy botanical garden complex in the world, including the first net-positive energy restaurant.”

The complex is considered net positive because it generates more energy than it consumes, with an excess amount of 10%.

It contains a parking garage, the restaurant The Green Orchid by Michael's on East, which draws much of its produce from a rooftop garden located in the complex, and The Garden Shop.

Generating 1.27 million kilowatts annually, the solar panels will offset the release of 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to the amount sequestered in over 1,000 acres of forest in the United States, according to John Byrd, associate principal and director of design performance for the architecture and design firm Overland Partners.

Byrd spoke about the challenges involved in realizing the project.

“With the many years and challenges the project faced — COVID, supply chain issues, inflation, just to name a few — I couldn't be more thrilled to be standing with you here today, to see this vision realized,” he said.

Patrick Attwater, CEO of One80 Solar, described the project as taking “five years and pretty much everything I've ever learned in my career in the solar industry of 15 years or so.”

So far, everything is running smoothly, with no noticeable differences following the switch to solar power, according to Michael Klauber, owner of The Green Orchid restaurant and Michael's on East.

Visitors can see the generation of the energy in real time, through monitors on the first floor of Selby Gardens' welcome center.

There is still more to come with Phase One.

With the solar power now switched on, Selby Gardens is eligible to prove over the next 12 months that the complex warrants the Living Building and Living Community Petal Certification by the International Living Future Institute.

A media release said the Master Plan has also been guided by the international landscape architecture studio OLIN, civil engineer Kimley-Horn, and construction manager Willis Smith, and powered by the Barancik Foundation.