El Dorado Chevrolet/Mazda in McKinney, Texas will become one of the first net zero car dealers in America once its planned 1 megawatt, 3,456 solar panel canopy is completed. Net zero means that over the course of a year, the electricity generated by the system will more than offset all the electricity needed to operate El Dorada’s 28 acre new car, used car, and service facility. The project will be spearheaded by Sunfinity Renewable Energy and installed by Ratliff Group, which specializes in construction projects for automotive companies.
In addition to providing a place for solar panels, the 37 canopies will shade the cars on the lot from the scorching Texas sun, making shopping more pleasant for customers and protecting the cars parked underneath from hail, a threat that is becoming more common in the area, according to a report in Solar Industry magazine.