City of Knoxville, TN
04/16/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/16/2026 10:08
City Flips Switch on Community Center Solar on Earth Day
In celebration of Earth Day, Mayor Indya Kincannon will join children in the Parks and Recreation after-school program to flip the switch on a new solar panel array with battery storage at the Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
"This installment of solar infrastructure means a reliable, carbon-free supply of electricity for this important community center," says Mayor Kincannon. "Investing in solar is just one of the many ways we support clean energy in our facilities and operations."
City-owned buildings currently powered with solar are: Cal Johnson Community Center, Knoxville Civic Auditorium-Coliseum and Market Square parking garages, Knoxville Convention Center, Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park and Knoxville Area Transit Station.
This solar project - the first with battery storage - was fully funded by an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) from the Department of Energy. Solar Alliance installed the infrastructure with support from Knoxville Utilities Board; both agencies will be on site providing activities.
Patience Melnik, Director of the City's Office of Sustainability, says the battery allows the building to use renewable power in the evening, during power outages or on cloudy days.
"Nearly 40 percent of Knoxville's carbon emissions come from buildings," she said. "When we can make our buildings more energy efficient or operate them with renewable energy, we can make a big dent in our emissions while reducing our utility bills."
The City is on track to meet its goal-set in 2019-to reduce municipal emissions by 50 percent by 2030.
For information about the City's renewable energy investments and goals, visit KnoxvilleTN.gov/Sustainability.
"This installment of solar infrastructure means a reliable, carbon-free supply of electricity for this important community center," says Mayor Kincannon. "Investing in solar is just one of the many ways we support clean energy in our facilities and operations."
City-owned buildings currently powered with solar are: Cal Johnson Community Center, Knoxville Civic Auditorium-Coliseum and Market Square parking garages, Knoxville Convention Center, Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park and Knoxville Area Transit Station.
This solar project - the first with battery storage - was fully funded by an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) from the Department of Energy. Solar Alliance installed the infrastructure with support from Knoxville Utilities Board; both agencies will be on site providing activities.
Patience Melnik, Director of the City's Office of Sustainability, says the battery allows the building to use renewable power in the evening, during power outages or on cloudy days.
"Nearly 40 percent of Knoxville's carbon emissions come from buildings," she said. "When we can make our buildings more energy efficient or operate them with renewable energy, we can make a big dent in our emissions while reducing our utility bills."
The City is on track to meet its goal-set in 2019-to reduce municipal emissions by 50 percent by 2030.
For information about the City's renewable energy investments and goals, visit KnoxvilleTN.gov/Sustainability.
City of Knoxville, TN published this content on April 16, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 16, 2026 at 16:08 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]