Burbank Water and Power Celebrates Ribbon Cutting of Burbank's Largest Solar + Battery System at the Hollywood Burbank Airport, Regional Intermodal Transportation Center

Burbank, CA (May 1, 2026) - Burbank Water and Power (BWP) is proud to celebrate the official ribbon cutting of Burbank's largest solar and battery storage system. The 2 megawatt solar system, paired with a 2 megawatt / 8 megawatt-hour lithium-ion battery storage system, is now fully in service at the Regional Intermodal Transportation Center (RITC). The $17 million project, 15 years in the making, represents a major milestone in Burbank's pursuit of 100% zero-carbon energy by 2040.

"Today marks the official ribbon-cutting of the largest solar system in Burbank, now fully in service. The project has been 15 years in the making and will deliver 2 megawatts of zero-carbon power to our community via solar and battery storage," said Mandip Samra, General Manager, Burbank Water and Power.

"A huge thank you to Hollywood Burbank Airport, the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority, and Baker Electric, our trusted collaborators who helped make this project possible," added Ms. Samra.

Finding optimal sun exposure for large solar installations can be a major challenge in dense areas like Burbank. The RITC location provides 174,000 square feet (4 acres) of rooftop space atop the parking structure and holds 4,260 American-made solar panels. The energy generated goes directly to the Burbank community, with the capacity to power approximately 585 homes.

Without proper storage, solar power is limited to daylight hours. The battery storage system stores excess solar energy and discharges it to the community during peak usage periods when demand and energy prices are highest, helping to prevent power outages and reduce costs. The competitive bidding process began in August 2023, and Baker Electric was selected as the most qualified contractor in December 2023. Construction was completed in April 2026.

"I'm so proud to have this solar array in our city," said Burbank Mayor Tamala Takahashi. "This project demonstrates Burbank's commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future for our residents."

"This project is a testament to what's possible when local institutions work together toward a shared vision," said Frank Quintero, Secretary of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority. "The Airport Authority is proud to partner with Burbank Water and Power to put our infrastructure to work for the community, generating clean energy right here in Burbank, where it benefits our residents and businesses most."

"It is special to have this resource here in our community. Connecting to zero-carbon energy generated outside of Burbank requires access to transmission lines, which take an average of 10 years to build," says Ms. Samra. "This project gets BWP one step closer to meeting our zero-carbon energy supply goal."

For media inquiries, please contact Armand Canyon, Burbank Water and Power Marketing Manager, at [email protected] or 818-238-3548.

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