Waynesboro's Zeus Theater now powered entirely by solar power

Electricity is one of the largest monthly expenses for Waynesboro’s Zeus Digital Theater, an eight-screen cinema on Lew DeWitt Boulevard that opened in 2010.

Electricity ranks in the top five for the Zeus’ founder and owner Brett Hayes, whose other expenses include payroll, movies and taxes. The building uses electricity for heat, air conditioning and running projectors.

So when Hayes began looking at ways to cut one of his most significant costs, the idea of converting his 35,000-square-foot facility to solar was appealing.

The capital investment for converting to solar was significant. Hayes said it was a $625,000 endeavor.

“It was a big investment. The money was paid upfront,” he told the News Virginian.

However, there was assistance to help with the significant capital costs.

“There was a 30% tax credit for solar investment,” Hayes said.

To further help with the cost, Hayes applied for and received a $240,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant.

Today, the roof of Zeus is blanketed with hundreds of solar panels installed by the Staunton office of Charlottesville-based Tiger Solar over several months, which concluded at the end of 2023.

“It was a seven-month process,” said Hayes of the installation. “I am generating my own power. I’m not buying from large power companies.”

Solar power is now generating about 40,000 kilowatt-hours per month at the movie theater in Waynesboro.

The Zeus has eight screens with four showtimes every day, starting with early afternoon matinees and ending with late-night shows.

According to Hayes, the theater’s innovation is not likely to be repeated at movie theaters nationwide. Big chains lease buildings for theaters. Hayes owns the Zeus building, making the solar investment more logical.

“You have got to have skin in the game,” he said. “We own the building.”

As for any comments about the U.S. government subsidizing the project, Hayes points to other energy investments the government has previously offered.

“The government has subsidized oil production since 1973,” he said.

For Hayes, the independence of solar has a historical context.

“You have to go back to the 19th century for a business to own its own energy,” said Hayes, speaking of using water wheels to provide power.

As for the maintenance costs of solar, Hayes sees the most significant costs being decades away.

“In 30 years, we will put on new solar panels,” he said.

Source: www.dailyprogress.com