Two years ago, solar panels were installed on the school’s roof. State Farm gave a $96,000 grant to Green Club and Suntech worked with the school to subsidize the costs of the 10KW PV system.
Ten solar panels were put in on the roof of the A wing with hopes to lower the school’s electric bill.
“The school sells it’s power back to the city and gets a reduced rate,” Green Club sponsor Christine Vick said.
Originally an ecoscreen was to be set up in the library for students and staff members to show how much energy was being generated, but the system wasn’t ever set up correctly. The system would have allowed science and engineering teachers to show their students how solar panels work.
“The company that was originally supposed to set up the system changed employees, [and are no longer able to set up the system], “ Vick said.
Another change of employees is in the administration of the district, where the past co-leader of the project no longer works in the district. Today, Vick is still a leader and now Assistant Principal Mike Roche is working with the solar panels.
“Since completion, the solar panels have been left there and not monitored, but are still generating energy,” Vick said.
