Presque Isle installs new solar panels. They'll save the park money and keep cars cool

Visitors to Presque Isle State Park's Beach 8 will find more parking spots in the shade this summer thanks to a project to capture energy from the sun.

Solar panels were installed in the Beach 8 parking lot with room for vehicles to park below.

Presque Isle and state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources officials announced in September 2021 that the solar panels would help the park reach net-zero energy consumption, save DCNR $30,000 on electricity annually, produce enough energy to power 25 average American homes and reduce the park's carbon footprint to the equivalent of removing 20 passenger cars from the road annually.

The solar project is part of a climate and sustainability plan for Presque Isle.

From 2021: Solar panels at Beach 8 will help take Presque Isle State Park to net-zero energy usage

Park Operations Manager Matt Greene previously said there would be parking spaces for at least 20 cars under each of five solar arrays. They would be high enough to accommodate taller vehicles, such as RVs, he said.

In 2016, a solar array in front of the park's Tom Ridge Environmental Center, 301 Peninsula Drive, began providing energy to help light that building.

Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Presque Isle installs solar panels to save money, cool cars