Small Town News

Cripple Creek becomes states first solar country club

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The Cripple Creek Golf & Country Club celebrated a big first April 15, during a ribbon cutting and public open house becoming the first golf and country club in Delaware to go solar.

Cripple Creek, situated on Indian River Bay just outside Bethany Beach, got the first leg of its four-tier project running in December, and according to Treasurer Tom Hunsberger, the facility is already realizing 65 percent savings and earning energy credits.

Cripple Creek started looking into utilizing solar power to offset rapidly escalating energy costs about six months ago. Three companies bid on the job, and the contract was awarded to Flexera, a Harbeson-based, comprehensive design-build alternative energy company.

Flexera installed four photovoltaic systems for Cripple Creek: an 8,190-watt, 39-panel system for the pool; a 17,640-watt, 84-panel system for the golf cart barn; a 12,600-watt, 60-panel system for the maintenance facility; and a 15,120-watt, 72-panel system for the irrigation systems.

Hunsberger said Cripple Creek's board formed an energy committee and started looking into several forms of alternative energy, including solar, wind and geothermal, about a year ago.

"The best rate of return came from solar," he said. "Our main decision when Flexera's figures came in was based on the fact that we could cut energy costs for the long term with a payback period of about four years. Federal grants, state grants and solar renewable energy credits are essential to making this project economical for our club."

The pool and cart systems were up and running in December. The maintenance facility system went hye in January, and the irrigation system was online in February. The energy cost for February, the first full month of operation for all four systems,

was less than 40 percent of the previous year's cost, according to Flexera Vice President Benjamin Farr.

Flexera also provided a comprehensive energy audit and plan for Cripple Creek, a major thing many people overlook, said Farr, when looking at reducing energy costs. "Even if you don't think you can afford solar or wind now, there are things most people can do to reduce their energy costs right away and they should be done to maximize savings even if you're installing an alternative energy system," said Farr.

Farr said Cripple Creek had full months and two partial months of figures to discuss with the public April 15. "We're very excited about this project."

"At this point in time we're very satisfied with the operation of the system and the financial results," said Hunsberger. "The panels blend in with the roofs, and we're selling energy back to Delaware Electric Co-op, and when we're not doing that, we're reducing our power bills. And that helps us contain costs for

our members."

Cripple Creek Golf & Country Club is at 29494 Cripple Creek Drive, DagsboroThe club can be reached by phone at 302-539-1446 and via email at info@crip-plecreekgolf.com.

Flexera was founded in 2006 by four employees and today has a full-time staff of more than 30.

The company is headquar tered at 22791 Dozer Lane, Harbeson, and can be reached at 302-945-6870 or onlin at www.flexera.net.





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