New solar power for Dinosaur Museum

by David Boyle
News Director
The Blanding Dinosaur Museum has a new look and a new power source following the installation of solar panels on the roof of the building.
The instillation of the solar system is part of the museums stated goal to become ecologically responsible and energy self-sufficient.  
In an interview with Red Rock Radio, museum Director Sylvia Czerkas shared that the project has been in the works for the past four years and on December 8 the solar system was activated.
Czerkas explained that marked the completion of the first of a two phase solar project. With phase one providing for the museum’s electric needs and  phase two planned to power a future HVAC system.
“The museum is large, it’s not gigantic like the Smithsonian, but it’s sizable. To heat and cool such a building it’s very expensive.
“Putting in the solar not only makes us self-sufficient for the electrical system, all the lights and things we have to run, but we’ve prepared it so we can install a heating and cooling system that will run off the solar also. It’s a two part system, we’ll activate the electric now, and once we get the heating and cooling, then we will activate the second part.”
While the current electric system will help the nonprofit literally keep the lights on, the second phase of the project, introducing heat to the museum, is of particular importance as the museum currently closes for the coldest five months of the year from November through early April.
“We can’t make our visitors or staff comfortable with it being so cold. To heat a place like that with conventional propane or gas or whatever is very expensive. This way we’ll be able to heat it to our hearts content and make everybody comfortable and hopefully have many more visitors come to the museum because we’ll have extended hours and extended time.”
The solar project was made possible through grants from a variety of organizations including the San Juan Clean Energy Foundation, The San Juan County Rural County Grant, The George and Dore Eccles Foundation, and the Wonder View Institute, 
Czerkas shared that the White Mesa Mill’s San Juan Clean Energy Foundation was a major contributor to the project. “It really fit their criteria for contributing to the community. They’ve contributed quite a bit to different parts of the community too, but they were very generous to us.”
Czerkas also expressed her gratitude for the grants received from other donating organizations.
The Museum has been open since July, 1995. The non-profit reports receiving thousands of students, and tourists from the region, domestically and internationally.
In a release, the museum said it has also benefited the community by increasing visitation to local hotels, restaurants, and merchants. It is an integral and contributing part of the everyday life of San Juan County. 
The release also added thanks to the many contributors to the project “for their support and understanding of our communities needs. The grant contributions to our museum, and the other facilities in San Juan County, has an immense benefit and valuable impact on our communities life in bringing much needed financial support to our developing area and allowing it to grow in a positive direction.”