Distributed Solar Development Unveils Custom Solar Canopy That Enabled MGM Springfield’s LEED Platinum Certification

Distributed Solar Development (DSD) announced the completion of a custom solar canopy it designed and built for MGM Springfield in Springfield, Massachusetts. The canopy enabled the property’s United States Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) New Construction Platinum level certification—the first for a gaming resort.

The canopy will contribute to MGM’s stated goal of reducing carbon emissions per square foot by 45% by 2025, using a 2007 baseline. Built with U.S.-made Nucor steel and a proprietary water management system, the 1.382MW solar canopy sits atop the roof deck of the MGM Springfield’s parking garage. It’s expected to generate more than 1,600 megawatt hours of electricity and reduce the property’s annual carbon footprint by approximately 410 metric tons of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent).

The solar canopy is one of the first projects to be financed by DSD’s new $250 million fund for distributed generation, first announced in October. The fund will help DSD meet growing demand from commercial and industrial clients for clean, renewable energy. It allows DSD to become a one-stop solution for assessing and designing, installing, operating, and maintaining distributed solar assets.