Baker Electric is proud to be part of a landmark clean energy project for the City of Burbank. In partnership with Burbank Water and Power, Hollywood Burbank Airport, and the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, Baker helped deliver Burbank’s largest solar and battery storage system at the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center (RITC).
The project includes a 2 megawatt solar system paired with a 2 megawatt / 8 megawatt-hour lithium-ion battery storage system. Now fully in service, the system represents a major milestone in Burbank’s pursuit of 100% zero-carbon energy by 2040.
What makes this project especially meaningful is how the system will operate. Unlike many commercial solar projects that are installed behind the meter and net-metered for a single facility, this system is installed in front of the meter on the utility side. Burbank Water and Power will operate the solar and battery storage system as a renewable power plant, centrally located at one of the City’s larger electrical loads, Hollywood Burbank Airport.
The RITC site also presented an ideal opportunity for large-scale solar in a dense urban environment. The system is installed on approximately 174,000 square feet, or 4 acres, of rooftop space on the parking structure and includes 4,260 American-made solar panels. The energy generated goes directly to the Burbank community, with capacity to power approximately 585 homes.
The battery storage component strengthens the value of the system by storing excess solar energy and discharging it during peak usage periods, when demand and energy prices are typically highest. This supports grid reliability, helps reduce costs, and gives Burbank Water and Power a valuable opportunity to learn more about how solar and battery systems perform as they continue developing future renewable energy projects.
For Baker’s Renewable Energy team, the project was also a strong example of constructability and smart design. The solar modules were installed on the existing standing-seam roof using specialized clamps that do not require roof penetrations. With no major mechanical equipment or obstructions on the roof, the RITC was well suited for a clean, efficient solar installation.
“As a solar professional for 17 years, I have dreamed about installing solar on a huge standing seam roof like this one! The clamp attachment method for the solar modules help keep the install costs relatively low and that benefits our client’s ROI.”
Matt Van Note, Renewables Pre-Construction Manager, Baker Electric
Following a competitive bidding process that began in August 2023, Baker Electric was selected as the most qualified contractor in December 2023. Construction was completed in April 2026.
Projects like this show what is possible when public utilities, transportation partners, airport authorities, and experienced contractors work together around a shared vision. For Baker Electric, it is an honor to contribute to infrastructure that supports clean energy, strengthens local resilience, and serves the community for years to come.
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