SLC convention hall to sport rooftop solar panels

SALT LAKE CITY — The owner of the Salt Palace convention hall in downtown Salt Lake City is announcing plans to install one of the largest rooftop solar panel installations.

Salt Lake County and project partners say the solar panels will supply a quarter of the building's power needs.

The panels will span 600,000 square feet of roof space, generating 2.6 megawatts of electricity.

They will add to the more than 100 solar panels installed four years ago to light the convention center's parking structure.

Salt Lake County is partnering with two Colorado companies. Bella Energy will build the system and NexGen Energy Partners will own and operate it and provide power at a fixed rate.

The Calvin L. Rampton Salt Palace Convention Center has 515,000 square feet of floor space.