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Earth Day solar panel and battery activation ceremony
April 22 @ 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
What: Earth Day solar panel and battery activation ceremony
When: 3:45 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Where: Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center, 3124 Wilson Avenue
Who: Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon, Office of Sustainability Director Patience Melnik, Parks and Recreation Director Sheryl Ely, staff members from the City, Solar Alliance and Knoxville Utilities Board, elected officials, afterschool program students
In celebration of Earth Day, Mayor Indya Kincannon will join children in the Parks and Recreation after-school program to flip the switch on a new solar panel array with battery storage at the Dr. E.V. Davidson Community Center at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 22.
“This installment of solar infrastructure means a reliable, carbon-free supply of electricity for this important community center,” says Mayor Kincannon. “Investing in solar is just one of the many ways we support clean energy in our facilities and operations.”
City-owned buildings currently powered with solar are: Cal Johnson Community Center, Knoxville Civic Auditorium-Coliseum and Market Square parking garages, Knoxville Convention Center, Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park and Knoxville Area Transit Station.
This solar project – the first with battery storage – was fully funded by an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) from the Department of Energy. Solar Alliance installed the infrastructure with support from Knoxville Utilities Board; both agencies will be on site providing activities.
Patience Melnik, Director of the City’s Office of Sustainability, says the battery allows the building to use renewable power in the evening, during power outages or on cloudy days.
“Nearly 40 percent of Knoxville’s carbon emissions come from buildings,” she said. “When we can make our buildings more energy efficient or operate them with renewable energy, we can make a big dent in our emissions while reducing our utility bills.”
The City is on track to meet its goal – set in 2019 – to reduce municipal emissions by 50 percent by 2030.