When San Diego Padres fans flock to Petco Park for Opening Day on March 29, they may notice something new besides the starting rotation. During the off season, Sullivan Solar Power installed 716 high-efficiency, 470-watt Sunpower solar modules on the roof of the ballpark’s upper deck. Local, union labor was employed to install the 336,520-watt system, which includes over a mile of electrical wiring. In addition to the clean energy, fans sitting in the upper deck section will enjoy the cooling shade provided by 180 of the panels that are now suspended over an open framework.
The solar system is larger than every other Major League Baseball stadium solar systems combined and will produce more than 12-million kilowatt hours of energy throughout the next 25 years. This is equivalent to disconnecting over 1,200 homes from the grid each year. It will also save the Padres millions of dollars during the lifetime of the system, reduce regional air pollution and lessen our need for imported fossil fuels. 
“Energy efficiency and sustainability are important initiatives for the city of San Diego, it is very important to the people of San Diego, and as the Padres ownership and those of us tasked with leading the organization, we consider Petco Park to be a public asset, and we are stewards of a public trust,” said Padres COO Erik Greupner. This solar installation also supports the city of San Diego’s climate action plan, which was passed by the city council in December 2015. It is the highest profile solar power system on a San Diego facility since the city’s commitment to 100 percent renewable energy by 2035. “With venues like Petco Park making energy conservation a priority, it is going to help us reach our ultimate goal as a city,” said San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. “This is one of the most complex rooftop solar installations this region has ever seen and on Opening Day this project will showcase no matter how complex the job, solar makes sense,” said Daniel Sullivan, founder and president of Sullivan Solar Power. “Solar energy is good for our city, our country, and our finances and the two million people that visit Petco Park each year will be getting a glimpse of the future, today.”