The City of Glendale celebrated a major milestone in sustainability and community investment with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new rooftop solar installation at the Glendale Central Library on Monday. The event brought together City Councilmembers, City leadership and community partners to mark the completion of a project that modernizes one of the City’s most valued public spaces. The solar installation marks the completion of the second project in Phase 1 of the City-Owned Solar Program. Funding for this installation was unique in that Glendale Water & Power’s $662,836 investment was matched by part of an existing state grant, for a total investment of $1,325,672. This grant was part of the California State Library Building Forward Glendale Central Library Critical Maintenance, Sustainability and Youth Spaces Renovation Project, a comprehensive effort funded through a $5,670,328 state grant, matched by $5,670,328 in City funds, for a total investment of $11,340,656.

  “This project represents what’s possible when we align infrastructure investment with long-term sustainability goals,” said Glendale Water & Power General Manager Scott K. Mellon. “We’re not just upgrading a building, we’re producing more local clean energy, supporting Glendale’s overall energy supply and advancing our sustainability goals through a meaningful investment in the community.”

  The newly installed 400kW solar array is expected to generate approximately 650,000 kWh of clean energy per year directly from the sun, an amount roughly equivalent to 58% of the Library’s annual energy needs, contributing to the City’s overall clean energy goals, and helping reduce Glendale’s collective greenhouse gas emissions. 

“This investment goes far beyond infrastructure,” said the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture director Lessa Kanani′opua Pelayo-Lozada. “It reflects a shared commitment to creating spaces that serve our community today while preparing for tomorrow, especially for our children and teens who will continue to benefit from these newly renovated spaces.”

  In addition to the solar installation, the project delivered critical upgrades across the facility, including:

• Complete renovation of the Children’s Space and creation of a dedicated Teen Space and Sound Space
• Accessibility improvements on the second floor
• Replacement of the aging, leaking roof

  These improvements ensure the Library remains a modern and welcoming destination for the community while also advancing Glendale’s sustainability and resiliency goals.

The project highlights a strong partnership among the City of Glendale, Glendale Water & Power and Glendale Library, Arts & Culture, demonstrating how strategic collaboration and external funding can drive meaningful, community-centered outcomes. As Glendale continues to invest in clean energy, the City is also advancing additional solar initiatives, including the Glendale Sports Complex Parking Lot Solar Project, which will generate over 2 million kWh of clean energy annually, equivalent to powering approximately 301 homes each year. This project is expected to be completed by June 2026.

Provided by the Glendale Water & Power