How Bpa/wsun School Pv Effort Worked at Elmira High School

This article reports on lessons learned from installing a photovoltaic system at Elmira High School through cooperation between Emerald People’s Utility District (a local utility), Bonneville Power Administration, and Western SUN (a utility oriented photovoltaic system wholesaler). Key factors needed for this project were interest from the school, advantages for the local utility in installing a solar electric system in its service territory, and a mechanism to help share the cost of the system. The school and the students benefit in having a renewable energy system that can be used as an educational aide. The local utility and BPA benefit from experience with the PV system and the positive publicity generated by the project. Initial reactions of the utility and the school are reported. However, it will take a while to develop and refine lesson plans to make full use of the solar electric system.