The Canary in the Coal Mine

A museum that celebrates the founding of the coal mining industry in a small town in Southeast Kentucky will soon be powered by clean, renewable energy. Owned by Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, The Kentucky Coal Mining Museum has ironically found a new way to cut down costs: solar energy. With a 60kW system comprised of 80 solar panels, not only will it power the museum itself but the rest of the town’s municipal utility as well. With a current power bill at $2100 a month, the museum expects to save between $8,000 and $10,000 a year on energy. These savings will go directly to students at the college. Even while housing the personal collection of the “Coal Miner’s Daughter” herself, the most nostalgic of places are embracing the future. 

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