Yeager Airport Board Explores Solar Panel Project

  Yeager Airport officials are exploring a project that could make the airport the first in the nation to run entirely on electricity it generates from solar panels.

The Charleston Gazette reports that members approved a motion to find the lowest bid on the project at a board meeting Thursday.

The project would place solar panels atop the parking garage closest to the airport’s terminal and in the airfield near the runway.

The money for the $15.3 million project would come from the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA is reviewing the project to ensure the panels won’t negatively impact on current air operations.

Airport director Rick Atkinson said the project would essentially eliminate its annual $450,000 electricity bill. Officials say the project could be scaled back if needed.