LAFAYETTE, Colo. — WOW! Children’s Museum is celebrating the launch of its new 48 kW solar panel system today with a free community event, bringing together families, local sustainability organizations, and clean energy partners to highlight how non-profit leadership can advance regional climate goals.
Operating in a city-owned facility in Lafayette since 1996, WOW! Children’s Museum provides hands-on, play-based learning for families across Colorado’s Front Range, serving over 2,000 households annually. By pursuing solar energy as part of its commitment to green business practices, the museum aims to demonstrate that community-serving nonprofits can invest in clean energy to reduce operating expenses and reinvest savings back into educational programming.
From 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. today, families are invited to enjoy free museum admission, participate in interactive environmental activities, engage with local sustainability groups, and attend an official solar ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"As a non-profit dedicated to inspiring curious minds, we are thrilled to model environmental stewardship for the thousands of children and families who walk through our doors," said Joanna Cagan, Executive Director at WOW! Children’s Museum. "This solar project allows us to trim our operational energy costs and reinvest directly back into our hands-on educational exhibits and community programming."
"Nonprofits should be able to participate in the clean energy economy even when they do not have a large amount of capital available upfront," said Lindsay Chung, Lending and Finance Manager at RE-volv. "Projects like WOW! show how the right financing structure can turn solar into a long-term investment for a community."
The solar installation, completed in March 2026 by Solar Power Pros, was made accessible through RE-volv's specialized nonprofit solar financing, alongside support from local rebates and federal Elective Pay clean energy incentives. Over its lifespan, the 48 kW system is projected to save the museum $108,000 in energy costs while avoiding more than 2.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
The celebration also highlights the collaborative effort among key project partners, including PACE of Boulder County and EnergySmart, which provide local businesses and organizations with sustainability resources, energy-efficiency support, and clean energy guidance.
"Partnerships like this are essential to advancing Boulder County’s clean energy and climate goals," said Jennifer Dingman, Commercial Sustainability Manager with PACE of Boulder County. "WOW! Children’s Museum is setting a powerful example for local organizations by demonstrating how clean energy investments strengthen both environmental resilience and community infrastructure."
About WOW! Children’s Museum
WOW! Children’s Museum is a nonprofit offering play-based learning for the diverse families of Colorado’s Front Range. Based in Lafayette in Boulder County, WOW! has operated since 1996, offering hands-on exhibits, arts and culture events, and education programs. Its mission is to inspire all families to nurture their children’s curiosity and spark a lifelong love of learning.
About RE-volv
RE-volv is an equity-focused clean energy nonprofit that works with community-serving nonprofits to move solar projects forward through financing, technical support and community engagement. RE-volv’s mission is to advance sustainable economic development in underinvested communities by facilitating, financing and raising awareness of equitable clean energy and climate resilience solutions.