Bigfoot has traded in his legendary footprints for a carbon footprint of exactly zero.
Earlier this month, on a sunny September day, the Powell County Tourism Commission at the Red River Gorge Visitor Center hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the center’s brand-new 22.55 kilowatt solar system and new Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers. With this rooftop addition, Powell County Tourism has become the first tourism commission in Kentucky to become net zero in terms of energy consumption, meaning the Visitor Center officially uses no more energy than it produces.
Installed this summer by Appalachian EnergyWorks, a company based out of the Red River Gorge, the solar panels will save the Commission about $4,100 each year. That’s enough to cover the energy needs of the Visitor Center and the EV chargers, which are free for visitors to use with a suggested donation to Powell County Search & Rescue.
“Not only will the solar bring us significant savings, but the EV chargers will draw even more tourists into our region, further supporting our local economies,” said Pete Fingerson, Executive Director of the Tourism Commission.
The new Level 2 EV chargers are compatible with any electric vehicle that uses a J1772 port, which is the standard for most non-Teslas (Tesla drivers simply need an adapter).
Fingerson highlighted that the project would have not have come together without the expertise of the Mountain Association’s Energy Team. They helped the Commission navigate grant funding, technology choices, along with key factors like the return on investment and other details.
“It was truly exciting how all the pieces of this project came together to meet the needs of the Visitor Center,” said Hope Broecker, Energy Specialist with the Mountain Association. “From the right funding opportunities and savings, innovative and efficient technology, and the opportunity to support local contractors— this is the alignment we strive for in all our work in Eastern Kentucky.”
With 50-60,000 visitors coming through the center each year, the Visitor Center is one of the gateways to Eastern Kentucky and represented the perfect place to celebrate an important milestone for our Energy Team: the 100th installation that we’ve facilitated in Eastern Kentucky. The 100 projects total $375,000 in annual savings for small businesses, organizations and local governments, adding up to $7.5 million in savings over the next 20 years.
“These installations are small projects, but they represent big savings for our clients – and our communities,” said Carrie Ray, Director of Energy Programs at Mountain Association. “Every dollar saved on energy bills is a dollar that can be reinvested in jobs, programs, and services that strengthen our communities.”
In addition to solar projects, since our energy program started in 2008, we have also facilitated more than 280 efficiency upgrades which allow our clients to save $1.3 million every year.
“Reaching 100 installations is just the beginning,” said Ray. “Demand for energy savings is soaring as rates are going up. We’re committed to continuing this work so even more businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies can cut costs, reduce emissions, and take part in building a stronger Eastern Kentucky.”
Grant funding for the Powell County Tourism Commission project came from the Solar Finance Fund and the Mountain Association via General Motors.
Our Energy Program is partially funded by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, through the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy with support from the U.S. Department of Energy State Energy Program.
