Download the Renewing Our National Parks booklet.
Through a partnership with the National Park Service, the Federal Energy Management Program provided technical support for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects at select national parks across the United States. Many of these projects were implemented 10 or more years ago and still provide significant cost savings and efficiency benefits.
National Park Projects
Alcatraz Island
A solar-powered microgrid on the main cell house building integrates with diesel generators to power the island.
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Biscayne National Park
Highlights a Biscayne National Park project replacing diesel generators with a PV system to reduce noise pollution and risk of fuel spills.
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Blue Ridge Parkway
Describes the Blue Ridge Parkway’s 1,560-kW PV system, which provides lighting for nighttime visitors and improves visibility during the day.
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Channel Islands National Park
Two wind turbines and several PV systems provide power to facilities on Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel islands.
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Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Describes the solar hot water system providing Chickasaw National Recreation Area comfort stations with water at a consistent 105°F.
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Crater Lake National Park
PV panels provide power to Crater Lake's North Entrance Fee Station, which has no connection to a commercial power source.
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Death Valley National Park
Highlights solar photovoltaic shade structure and field arrays at Death Valley National Park’s Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
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Glacier National Park
Highlights features of the solar PV system powering Glacier National Park’s Goat Haunt International Visitor Center.
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Grand Canyon National Park
Details the 1.44-kW solar system that partially powers the visitor center at Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim.
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Isle Royale National Park
Highlights Isle Royale National Park’s ESPC-funded solar PV arrays, which pair with diesel generators to handle seasonal loads.
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Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Details the PV system at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which powers a visitor center, warehouses, a communications center, and offices.
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Mesa Verde National Park
Details Mesa Verde National Park’s PV, solar hot water, and micro-hydro turbine systems which provide 95% of needed energy to park buildings.
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Mojave National Preserve
Provides details on Mojave National Preserve’s solar photovoltaic and battery storage system, which powers its visitor center.
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Natural Bridges National Monument
Describes Natural Bridges National Monument’s PV system, which powers its visitor center and eliminates the need for costly fuel deliveries.
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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Highlights Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area PV and geothermal systems, which power its visitor center and exterior lighting.
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Yellowstone National Park
Details how a PV and battery storage system replaced a propane tank to power a Yellowstone National Park ranger station.
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