# New Thomas Jefferson Solar Canopy at Mount Rushmore National Memorial Amps up Efforts by Xanterra Travel Collection to Create Greener National Parks & Memorials 

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2019/04/new-thomas-jefferson-solar-canopy-at-mount-rushmore-national-memorial-amps-up-efforts-by-xanterra-travel-collection-to-create-greener-national-parks-memorials/
- Published: 2019-04-18T23:39:13-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

MOUNT RUSHMORE (KEYSTONE), SOUTH DAKOTA – April 12, 2019 – On Earth Day, Monday,
April 22, at 2 p.m [Xanterra](https://www.xanterra.com/) Travel Collection is set
to unveil the new Thomas Jefferson Solar Canopy at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
This extraordinary structure provides over half of the electricity used by Xanterra’s
gift shop and restaurant at Mount Rushmore. The system is the second largest solar
installation in the state. It will reduce Xanterra’s greenhouse gas emissions by
24 percent or 56 MT CO2e/yr, which is the equivalent of taking 30 passenger vehicles
off the road each year.

![New solar canopy at mount rushmore photo xanterra travel collection](https://i0.
wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/IMG_3183.jpg?resize=300%2C190&
quality=52&ssl=1 "IMG_3183 - The Green Living Guy")

New solar canopy at Mount Rushmore Photo Xanterra Travel Collection

## The Solar Canopy at Mount Rushmore

The system includes 975 solar panels mounted on a carport structure. The project
was funded by [Xanterra Travel Collection](https://www.xanterra.com/), a global 
adventure travel company and the largest national park concessioner in the U.S.,
which operates the parking facility. Pivot Energy is behind the design of the project,
while SunPower Corporation and Circuits Energy are behind construction.

The solar canopy was completed in conjunction with many other improvements to the
parking facility, including a Parking Access Revenue Control System, which provides
guests the opportunity to pay for parking on foot during their visit, and an Automatic
Parking Guidance System, which indicates how many parking spaces are available in
each area. Other significant improvements include all new LED lights and lighting
controls. That’s in addition to sustainability signage, a tire inflation station,
and bicycle lockers. Not to mention [electric vehicle charging](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/11/kgm-musso-ev-south-koreas-new-electric-pickup/)
stations that will be coming soon.

These modernizations and environmental improvements to the [parking facility support Mount Rushmore National](https://greenlivingguy.com/2025/09/lamborghini-urus-se-phev-performance-meets-luxury/)
Memorial’s status as a Climate Friendly Park.  This status indicates that the National
Park Service, Xanterra, and other park partners are carrying out a climate action
plan. They’re focusing on sustainability,[ energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/08/10-largest-wind-project-development-2022/)
reduction, waste management, water usage, and adopting other best practices.

More details about the improvements will be announced by Xanterra, National Park
Service, and other partners at a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 22 at 2
p.m. MDT under the solar canopy on the parking facility.

## Xanterra’s Mission

Xanterra’s new solar installation at Mount Rushmore comes on the heels of an ambitious
sustainability program in 2018. Such programs now help produce clean, renewable 
energy for facilities in several of the country’s iconic national parks. For example,
includes the Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Grand Canyon National Park
in Arizona, and Death Valley National Park in California. The four new systems generate
a total of 4.5 million kilowatt hours per year. That’s equivalent to the energy 
used in about 426 average American homes. Moreover, it will avoid the carbon emissions
from 3.7 million pounds of coal each year.

Two of the systems, in Rocky Mountain National Park and at The Oasis in Death Valley
National Park, are specifically designed to withstand extreme natural conditions.
Such as high elevation, below-zero temperatures, significant snowfall, and very 
strong winds. Not to mention intense heat and desert conditions at the latter.

Xanterra has been a leader in addressing climate change for nearly two decades. 
Its focus is on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. It’s part of its overall commitment
to operate with “a softer footprint.” The company’s 2025 corporate sustainability
goals include using 5 percent less energy annually. That’s in addition to reducing
carbon emissions by 50 percent between 2014 and 2025.

“As many of Xanterra’s national park operations are literally at the end of the 
electric transmission line, renewable energy options such as solar provide us with
reliable power while also decreasing our overall carbon emissions,” said Andrew 
N. Todd, President and CEO of Xanterra. “Our commitment to the environment and the
communities in which we operate remains constant, and we will continually search
for ways to collaborate with the National Park Service to modernize our infrastructure
and implement new technologies that help us reach our ambitious 2025 goals.”

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
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