Horry Electric Cooperative and Santee Cooper Dedicate Green Power Solar School at Aynor Middle School
October 14, 2008
Innovative environmental program continues
GALIVANTS FERRY, SC – October 14, 2008 – Horry Electric Cooperative, Santee Cooper and the Horry County School District dedicated a Green Power Solar School today at Aynor Middle School.
Children, educators, and utility representatives gathered near the tall black solar array that is already producing electricity from the sun’s rays.
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.
“This is a special day for Horry Electric Cooperative, our local school district, and the young people and educators here at Aynor Middle. We believe that partnering with our schools, especially in areas of energy and environmental education, are critical to ensuring the quality of life for future generations. There’s never been a time in our history when learning about energy and environmental protection has been more important. I know this solar project will help students learn about the importance of our country’s energy challenges and ultimately lead us to understand more about how solar energy can play a part,” said James P. “Pat” Howle, Horry Electric Cooperative executive vice president and CEO. “We look forward to the benefits this partnership will bring to our community and to our young people.”
“This is truly a partnership in environmental stewardship. Working together, we can learn more about how renewables, energy efficiency and conservation can play a critical role in South Carolina’s energy future,” said R.M. Singletary, senior vice president of corporate services at Santee Cooper.“We appreciate the leadership both Horry Electric and the Horry County School District have shown in bringing this initiative here to Aynor Middle.”
In September 2001, Santee Cooper became the first electric utility in South Carolina to generate and offer Green Power. Since then, the state’s 20 electric cooperatives and The City of Georgetown have joined the state-owned utility in marketing Green Power to their members and customers. Green Power Solar Schools represents another way Santee Cooper and the cooperatives promote renewable energy, and the program fulfills Santee Cooper’s commitment to reinvest Green Power funds back into renewable resources throughout the state.
“Exposing our young people to the latest technology is a critical component of teaching and learning in our ever-changing world. This project combines the use of technology with a relevant and exciting science curriculum to engage students as they explore the energy challenges we face today,” said Dr. Cindy Elsberry, superintendent of Horry County Schools.
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 have also dedicated Green Power Solar Schools in their service areas in 2008. York Electric Cooperative and Lynches River Electric Cooperative dedicated Green Power Solar Schools in their service areas this school year. Ultimately, Santee Cooper plans to locate at least one Green Power Solar School in each of the state’s 20 electric cooperative service territories.
The Santee Cooper Green initiative
The Santee Cooper Green initiative is a utility-wide commitment bringing together eco-friendly, conservation 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.
Horry Electric Cooperative
Horry Electric Cooperative is a member-owned, nonprofit electric cooperative serving almost 63,000 accounts in Horry County. As a Touchstone Energy Partner, Horry 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.horryelectric.com for more information.
Santee Cooper
Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s state-owned electric and water utility and the state’s largest power producer, supplying electricity to more than 163,000 retail customers in Berkeley, Georgetown and Horry counties, as well as to 29 large industrial facilities, the cities of Bamberg and Georgetown, and the Charleston Air Force Base. Santee Cooper also generates the power distributed by the state’s 20 electric cooperatives to more than 700,000 customers in all 46 counties. Approximately 2 million South Carolinians receive their power directly or indirectly from Santee Cooper. The utility also provides water to 137,000 consumers in Berkeley and Dorchester counties, and the town of Santee. Visit us online at www.SanteeCooper.com.
