The Quad Cities River Bandits (Low A; Midwest League) have partnered with Century Electric and Solar to add a small solar farm on the roof of Modern Woodmen Park. The 58-panel array, paid for without any city or state money, is located on the roof of the suite level on the third base side. It uses green energy to offset the annual electric usage of the new state-of-the-art LED outfield lights.
Prior to the 2017 season, the River Bandits became one of the first three teams to install LED lights in their ballpark, and the only club below the Triple-A level. The lights have improved visibility for the players on the field while also limiting light pollution and glare for the fans in the ballpark. The new lights have already reduced the team’s energy consumption by 40 percent. The introduction of the solar panels will reduce it further still.
“Our LED field lights have reduced glare, light pollution, and electricity demands while creating an optimal environment for the Astros’ top prospects,” said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. “Climate change is a very real problem; the flood waters surrounding our beautiful ballpark illustrate that all too clearly. Our new Century Electric solar farm takes our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint even further. We are lowering energy consumption, conserving electricity, helping the environment, and leading our industry toward a greener future.”
“We at Century Electric & Solar of Eldridge, Iowa, are proud to have teamed up with the River Bandits and the City of Davenport to provide solar energy for one of the most iconic facilities in the Quad Cities,” said owner Aaron Griesenbeck. “This is a great project and we believe it will be a model in the region.”