Developing Solar Carports: Feasibility, Planning, and Community Engagement
Developing Solar Carports: Feasibility, Planning, and Community Engagement
Developing Solar Carports: Feasibility, Planning, and Community Engagement
Program: Catalyst Leadership Circle Fellowship
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As communities seek to modernize public spaces and reduce energy costs, solar carports present a practical and sustainable solution. The City of Coldwater is exploring solar-powered parking canopies at municipal lots to generate renewable energy and provide weather protection. To support this effort, CLC Fellow Wulan Kencana Adjani prepared a comprehensive feasibility report covering site layouts, structural design options, system sizing, energy production, budget projections, and long-term savings. Building on these findings, she developed a solar carport planning guide outlining best practices for panel selection, structural configurations, energy modeling, cost estimation, funding strategies, and ROI projections. To advance the project, she also created outreach materials to engage residents, City Council members, and potential funders. Collectively, these deliverables provide Coldwater and other municipalities with a clear framework for planning and implementing solar carport projects.