Goal nearly met for solar at Lopez School

Thanks to generous contributors, we have almost met our goal for a 10-kilowatt solar array on the Lopez School. We have raised $27,000 of the $35,000 needed. The last chance to contribute is Saturday, June 27 at the Energy Fair at the Lopez Community Center. Help us close the gap and raise the remaining funds.

June 23, 2015 11:34 am

The following was submitted by the San Juan Islands Conservation District.

Thanks to generous contributors, we have almost met our goal for a 10-kilowatt solar array on the Lopez School. We have raised $27,000 of the $35,000 needed. The last chance to contribute is Saturday, June 27 at the Energy Fair at the Lopez Community Center. Help us close the gap and raise the remaining funds.

The array will be installed this summer and the size will be determined after the final fundraising total is calculated at the Energy Fair. One of the great features of this program is that you get your money back. Contributors receive annual production incentive payments for the electricity generated. The overall project is designed to install solar arrays at the public schools on Shaw, Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands, and provide renewable energy education and science kits for students.

A 10-kilowatt system was installed on Orcas High School last month and another 10 kW system is planned for the Friday Harbor school’s STEM building in July, with a smaller system planned for Shaw Island School later this summer. All electricity generated from the solar arrays is being donated to the schools to offset their electricity bills.

The educational components of this project are as important as the solar installations. This program includes energy curriculum and tools from Bonneville Environmental Foundation that monitors the schools’ energy use and energy generation from the solar panels.

We need your help to close the gap and complete the Lopez School solar installations. To make a contribution and receive an annual production incentive credit payment, please go to www.sanjuanislandscd.org/community-solar to sign up online, give us a call at 378-6621, or come to the Energy Fair on Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lopez Community Center.

Please help bring renewable energy to our schools. Your contributions will inspire our students and give them the tools they need to meet the challenges of the future.

The Energy Fair, Solar Home Tour and Solar for Our Schools is brought to you by Islands Energy, a collaborative group of local citizens and organizations working together to increase energy efficiency and conservation and promote community solar.

Islands Energy is led by the San Juan Islands Conservation District in partnership with OPALCO.