Gold Beach library seeks state development funds for solar canopies, batteries to reach net‑zero and emergency readiness

Gold Beach — Curry Public Library District officials on Aug. 6 outlined a solar canopy and battery project intended to make the Gold Beach library net‑zero over a year, add on‑site battery backup for outages, and provide shaded gathering and covered‑parking canopies that could also collect rainwater and provide device‑charging during emergencies.

The project team told the Curry County Board of Commissioners the development phase will be competitive and requested letters of support from county officials and community members as part of the application materials. Project managers said an initial intake deadline had been August 15 but was later extended to Sept. 15.

The presentation and why it matters

Jeremy Skinner, director of the Curry Public Library District, said the library already has rooftop panels and batteries that supply roughly 7–8 percent of its current electricity use and that the proposed buildout would produce as much electricity as the library uses in a year, with a modest cushion for additional public charging. Shannon Souza of Soul…