Tracker System Greens New Orleans Skate Park

With the help of a new solar system, a New Orleans’ 9th Ward community center and skate park is taking a step toward addressing the global environmental challenge. The community is now celebrating having the “greenest skate park in the world.”

The Lower Ninth Ward Village’s skate park and solar tracker were commissioned at a celebration Sept. 26, which included representatives of Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation and Grammy winning rapper Lil Wayne, a skater himself.

Make It Right builds healthy homes and buildings for communities in need. As part of making the project as environmentally responsible as possible, Make It Right sought to include the most efficient solar electric system it could.

Working with Joule Solar Energy, a Louisiana-owned company, they chose the pole-mounted dual-axis AllSun Tracker system. The tracker system uses GPS and wireless technology to follow the sun throughout the day boosting energy production. It was heralded at the event as the first solar tracking installation of its kind in the region.

The 6-kW solar tracker will produce over 10,000 kWh per year and supply the energy for the community center and skate park’s lighting, fans, and computers.

“The solar tracker provides the park affordable, clean energy. Lower power bills help keep the park sustainable for the entire community,” said Pierre Moses, Make It Right Solar’s program director.

Joule Solar Energy, a new AllSun Tracker partner, has installed more than 1.4 MW of solar systems throughout the Gulf South, creating sustainable savings for homes and businesses.

“We are thrilled to have an AllSun Tracker both providing a source of affordable renewable energy and a symbol of sustainability in a Ward hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina. It’s a great symbol of hope for the future for addressing climate change,” said David Blittersdorf, CEO of AllEarth Renewables, the manufacturer of the tracker system.