Chesterfield-Ruby Middle next Green Power Solar School
July 23, 2008
Phase 2 of innovative environmental program continues
PAGELAND, SC — July 21, 2008 – Lynches River Electric Cooperative, Santee Cooper and Chesterfield County School District have announced the formation of the Green Power Solar Schools program in the cooperative territory. Chesterfield-Ruby Middle School has been selected as a Green Power Solar School.
The Green Power Solar Schools initiative is designed to encourage interest in the environment and demonstrate the feasibility and limitations of renewable power generation. Each Green Power Solar School receives a 2-kilowatt solar power system, which will provide a teaching, research and hands-on demonstration opportunity for students. The project uses a new renewable energy curriculum designed especially for the program that meets state science standards. Each school program is supplemented by an Internet-based monitoring system that provides real-time access to information on the system’s performance as well as other solar schools in South Carolina.
“Lynches River Electric Cooperative is excited to be a partner in this solar project that provides our young people and community with real world tools that will spark imaginations and lead toward learning and innovation. These are our leaders of tomorrow and they face many energy challenges that this project will enable them to explore,” said Edward S. Drozd, Lynches River Electric Cooperative President and CEO. “We look forward to this fruitful project and the benefits it will bring to our community and to our young people.”
Green Power Solar Schools represents one way that Santee Cooper and the state’s 20 electric cooperatives promote renewable energy, and it fulfills Santee Cooper’s commitment to reinvest Green Power funds back into renewable resources across South Carolina. In September 2001, Santee Cooper became the first electric utility in the state to generate and offer Green Power to its customers from methane gas collected at the Horry County Solid Waste Authority Landfill near Conway. Since then, two additional landfills in Lee and Richland counties have opened, as has the 16-kilowatt solar installation at Coastal Carolina University. Another landfill methane gas generating site has been announced in Georgetown County. Santee Cooper, all 20 electric cooperatives and The City of Georgetown market Green Power to their customers.
Renewable energy exploration and conservation are important ways to help meet the growing electricity needs in our state. Green Power Solar Schools continues our environmental leadership and challenges the next generation to think differently about future energy sources,” said Lonnie Carter, president and chief executive officer of Santee Cooper.
“Exposing our young people to the latest technology and the challenges or our complex world are critical to effective teaching and learning. This project combines the use of technology with a relevant and exciting science curriculum that energizes the classroom and engages students,” said Dr. John E. Williams, superintendent of Chesterfield County School District.
Five additional schools, served by Palmetto Electric Cooperative, Berkeley Electric Cooperative, Pee Dee Electric Cooperative, Aiken Electric Cooperative and Laurens Electric Cooperative, became Green Power Solar Schools in 2007. Santee Electric Cooperative, Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative and Tri-County Electric Cooperative dedicated their Green Power Solar Schools in this 2008 second phase of the program.
Santee Cooper recently unveiled Santee Cooper Green, a utility-wide commitment bringing together all the eco-friendly, conservation-minded approaches that Santee Cooper practices and all the programs and opportunities for its customers to “go green.” More information can be found at www.SanteeCooperGreen.com
Lynches River Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, nonprofit electric cooperative serving almost 20,400 accounts in Chesterfield, Kershaw, and Lancaster counties. As a Touchstone Energy Partner, Lynches River Electric joins over 600 electric co-ops nationwide to share the Touchstone Energy core values of integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community. Visit www.lynchesriver.com for more information.
Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility and serves more than 160,000 residential and commercial customers in Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry counties. The utility also generates the power distributed by the state’s 20 electric cooperatives to more than 685,000 customers in all 46 counties. All total, almost two million South Carolinians receive their power directly or indirectly from Santee Cooper. For more information, visit www.SanteeCooper.com
