9News Denver | by Anusha Roy
DENVER – There are new gardens being built across Denver.
Not the kind of garden you might be thinking of, but the kind of garden where you can harvest energy and donate it to low-income families.
It’s designed to address environmental equity. Without this kind of equity, Denver won’t reach its environmental goals. The first solar garden is on the roof of the National Western Complex.
The rest will be built in neighborhoods, recreation centers, and Denver Public Schools’ property through next year.
The City of Denver said once the 11 projects are completed, 40% will support low-income households through Denver Public Schools and the Denver Housing Authority.
Kim Shields, Director of Strategic Initiatives at EOC, estimates on the low end, 100,000 people could use help with their energy bill and for the clean energy transition in the city. The solar gardens are just one small part of a series of projects to provide that kind of assistance, as well as close the gap left by Xcel Energy's efforts.
