RIT moved to its new facility on List Drive in January of 2008. Adjacent to the RIT building was a 1.3 acre undeveloped lot. In an effort to support our environment, reduce our carbon footprint, and encourage others to follow our example, RIT has installed a Ground Mounted Solar Array on this piece of land.

The solar array will be built in two phases. The first development phase has been completed and consists of (312) 200 W solar modules for a total of 62.4 KW DC, producing more than 54 KW AC power and providing more than 110% of the electrical power needed for the RIT facility. Additional power, generated in excess of the RIT facility usage, will be sold to Colorado Springs Utilities by feeding directly into the electrical grid. The power generated by Phase I makes RIT the largest independent energy producer within the City of Colorado Springs. It is estimated that the first phase of this project will reduce the CO2 emissions by over 5 million pounds of over 25 years and will be the equivalent of planting 44 acres of trees.

The second development phase will add approximately 75 KW DC of additional power generating capacity to the ground mounted solar array. All of the power generated in the second development phase will be sold to Colorado Springs Utilities by connecting directly into the electrical grid.

This Ground Mounted Solar array was designed and built by Rocky Mountain Solar and Wind and was developed in cooperation with Colorado Springs Utilities under the Renewable Energy Rebate Program for Photovoltaics.