A solar panel array covering more than 250,000 square feet of space at the Homemakers store in Urbandale was activated Thursday during a launch event. The solar panels are on the upper and lower levels of the showroom roof as well as part of the warehouse roof. It is one of the largest private solar panel arrays in Iowa and is made of 2,988 bifacial panels, which will produce about 44% of Homemakers’ annual energy needs. “This solar array is important to Homemakers, as it’s a long-term investment in our facility that will pay us back multiple times over,” Homemakers Assistant Vice President Jason Merschman said. “It helps us be as sustainable as possible, which is one of our constant goals.” Ankeny-based 1 Source Solar completed the array using Tier-1 rated panels that are engineered and tested to withstand heavy wind, rain and hail.