District leaders and community members will join students at Corvallis High School on February 20 at 3:20 pm to celebrate the community solar project at CHS. Installation of the 117-kilo-Watt solar array was recently completed and is now in use. The project is expected to deliver environmental benefits each year equivalent to planting 93 acres of trees, or reducing the miles driven by passenger cars by 236,000 miles.
Student fundraising and community members joined together to make this project possible. Other funding for the project came from BE Solar, a division of Benton Electric, Inc., of Albany, which installed the system, and the Energy Trust of Oregon. The Corvallis School District will purchase electricity produced by the solar electric system at rates guaranteed under the terms and conditions of a Power Purchase Agreement. The system is projected to save the school district more than $21,000 in electric costs in the first ten years, and nearly $317,000 over 25 years.
CHS student and Green Club co-president Lauren Reichman is excited to invite the public to this celebration. “For me, this signifies an incredible accomplishment for our school and community. The fact that we have been working towards this moment for years and having it come to fruition during my time at CHS is spectacular to see,” shared Lauren. “Our community came together to create a sustainable change. I’m so proud of not only the accomplishment, but also of everyone who supported us along the way. I believe that this means there is hope for a more sustainable future.”
Facilities and Transportation Director Kim Patten is leading the district’s bond program and has been facilitating discussions about how to incorporate sustainability throughout the district as projects get underway. The project is an example of the potential for the use of renewable energy in the district “We are proud of the commitment to sustainability demonstrated by our students,” said Ms. Patten. “From elementary cafeteria composting programs to the work by our high school students that led to this solar installation, these types of activities provide real-world learning and our students know they are making a difference.”
The Corvallis School District is mid-way through the process of creating a Sustainability Management Plan that will focus on four key areas: Facilities, Food and Waste, Energy and Water, and Transportation. “We are definitely including design guidance principles related to sustainability in the design work for our bond projects,” shared Patten. “This is an exciting time for sustainability in our district.”
Celebration guests are asked to check in at the front office of Corvallis High School.
UPDATE: Read CHS student Mali Gottfried’s speech given at the Solarbration Event on the importance of taking action.