Wales’ National Coal Mining Museum located at Big Pit, Blaenavon, Nr Abergavenny in south Wales, now has 200 photovoltaic solar panels erected on the Big Pit museum’s roof with another 200 solar panels installed on the National Collection Centre in Nantgarw.
Why? Because solar panels save money, obviously. I mean, why use other fuel sources, whatever those might be, when you can generate your own electricity and make some money off of it?
It is estimated that the solar panels will offset about £400,000 [$648,000] during the next 25 years. [It] cost about £70,000 to install the panels, which was funded by the museum. The electricity generated will be used on site with any surplus being sold to the National Grid, which can produce additional income for the museum.
“Coal is such an important part of Wales’ heritage and yet green energy will play a major part in its future. A solar powered coal-mining museum is a fantastic way to celebrate this national journey,” said Peter Walker, Museum Manager of Big Pit. “But it’s far from just symbolic — the museum will benefit from huge reductions in energy bills and a solid return from the feed-in tariff.”
Meanwhile, in America, the coal industry reminds us that solar panels are what Satan uses to turn Americans into communists.
Another way in which Wales is a step ahead of the United States: The coal industry has been made into a museum exhibition. See how life used to be, kids, in the terrible times of yesteryear.
Good to know that something coal-related is making money, anyway.
