Summary:

The Kentucky Coal Museum now features an array of 80 solar panels on its roof that will mean big savings in electricity. 

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Main Article:

Oh, the irony. 

The Kentucky Coal Museum in the city of Benham is dedicated to preserve and educate the public about coal mining in the region, but in a sign of the times, the building turned away from this fossil fuel and instead tapped into a renewable energy source for its electricity needs: solar power.

The Museum owned by Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC), is now powered mostly by the sun. 

The roof of the museum now features an array of 80 solar panels. The cost of the entire project, including two other planned solar sites, is expected to cost between $400,000 and $500,000 and will be funded by different philanthropic sources. 

Solar energy will provide badly needed savings for the institution. The electric bill for the museum averaged around $2,100 each month. The solar project  will mean savings of between $8,000 and $10,000 a year in energy costs. 

While the solar panels will supplement energy used by the museum, the building will still be tied into the grid. The panels are expected to have an output of 60 kw, which would, if used by themselves, would power about 90 percent of the building’s current utility needs. The energy will be transferred to the local power plant, which will help decrease the amount of power the power board has to purchase from their supplier, which will lead to savings across the board. 

This solar project won't solely benefit the museum. It's also expected to benefit the small city of Benham, which is home to the coal museum as well as approximately 500 residents.

The Benham Power Board, which is a municipal utility, will be able to save money by using the energy the museum's panels generate through an agreement with the college.

And the solar array on top of the museum is not the only solar farm planned for the community. There are plans to establish two more local solar-panel sites in the town.

The Kentucky Coal Museum hosts and educates thousands of visitors who want to learn about the history of coal and coal mining each year.