Kiskiack Golf Club celebrated the installation of solar panels at a ceremony Tuesday.
“We wanted to figure out ways to make Kiskiack a sustainable golf course for many years,” said Carl Zangardi, owner of Kiskiack Golf Club.
The solar energy system possesses 29 kilowatts of power and consists of 88 panels. The solar panels are expected to offset 25 percent of the golf club’s power usage and save $5,000 on electric bills annually, according to a Solar United Neighbors news release.
Solar United Neighbors is a nonprofit dedicated to solar energy advocacy.
Kiskiack Golf Club arranged the installation of the solar panels with the support of the Hampton Roads Solar Co-op, a regional solar co-op open to homeowners and businesses from Virginia Beach to Newport News and Williamsburg areas. The co-op is a regional arm of Solar United Neighbors, which has facilitated 650 installations statewide. The co-op provides guidance to members on financing and installation of solar panels, which are bought in bulk to lower costs.
Kiskiack Golf Club is the first business to utilize solar power through the Hampton Roads Solar Co-op, said Aaron Sutch of Solar United Neighbors of Virginia. The project cost $54,000.
“It’s something that’s gaining traction,” Sutch said of solar energy in Virginia. “Here, on this golf course, Mr. Zangardi has made the decision to be an energy producer.”
The co-op currently has 50 members and is open to new members. The deadline to sign up is June 8. A free public information meeting will be held 7 p.m. May 17 at James City Library, located at 7770 Croaker Road.