(TUCSON, Ariz.) – Ahhhh, shaded parking in the summer. Beginning with Murphy-Wilmot Library, four more locations in Tucson and Marana will soon have solar panels providing covered parking installed on their lots: Murphy-Wilmot Library, Eckstrom-Columbus Library, and Wheeler Taft Abbett, Sr. Library. The Martha Cooper Library will receive ground-mounted panels.
Panels were installed at the Nanini Library in 2016.
The solar panel construction has no up-front costs, and will save taxpayers an estimated 20-50% in energy costs. This is part of the Sustainable Action Plan, an ongoing project by the Pima County Office of Sustainability and Conservation; their goal is to get 15% of the County’s energy from renewable sources by 2025.
Construction at the Murphy-Wilmot Library got underway on Monday, July 16. It’s estimated that it will take about a month to complete.
During this time, 44 parking spaces will be unavailable, and the handicapped parking spaces will move to the west side of the building. The contractor, SOLON Corporation, is working with Library staff to minimize disruption, and much of the work will be done in the early morning before the Library opens.
We apologize in advance about the parking squeeze—we know that this will impact the families and folks who need to park at the Library during the period of construction. We thank you for your patience and hope it will be over before you know it.
Start dates for the other three libraries are not yet available. Customers who would like more information can check the Library’s online newsroom for updates, call Infoline at (520) 791-4010, or visit the Murphy-Wilmot Library's Facebook page.
Questions regarding the Sustainable Action Plan or solar projects in Pima County may be directed to the Office of Sustainability and Conservation either via online form or (520) 724-6940.
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