Parkway Northeast Middle School on July 7 became the first of 15 Missouri schools to receive an interconnected, one-kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic array, thanks to Missouri Schools Going Solar (MSGS), a solar energy education project created by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Energy Center and sponsored by AmerenUE. At a press conference held at Parkway Northeast Middle School to unveil the new technology, students demonstrated the solar array. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, West County Journal, Metro News Media and St. Louis TV station KSDK News Channel 5 covered the event. Missouri Sen. Joan Bray (D-District 24) and State Rep. Albert Liese (D-District 79) attended the conference.
Through this program, MSGS so far has awarded grants for the installation of a photovoltaic solar system to nine Missouri schools that are AmerenUE electric customers. MSGS anticipates awarding systems to six more schools this year. Winning schools will also receive curricular materials and training to help teachers incorporate lessons about energy efficiency and renewable energy into classroom courses and activities.
The Energy Center, an office of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Outreach and Assistance Center, is managing Missouri Schools Going Solar on behalf of the Residential/Commercial Energy Efficiency Collaborative. The collaborative, formed as part of a settlement approved in 2002 by the Missouri Public Service Commission and other parties, includes members from the Missouri Public Service Commission, the Energy Center, Office of Public Counsel, AmerenUE and the Missouri Energy Group. AmerenUE has made available a total of $350,000, through June 2007, to implement MSGS in its Missouri electric service territory.
Funding for the education program will come from MSGS as well as the required $2,500 cash match that each school must provide. Another partner in the project is the EarthWays Center, a division of the Missouri Botanical Garden. EarthWays Center, a regional leader in energy and environmental education, will provide the energy education program to the schools.
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“This program is designed to increase awareness of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources,” says Thomas R. Voss, Ameren Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Ameren is committed to providing our customers with clean, reliable energy, while preserving, protecting and improving the environment.”
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“Our goal with this program is to educate students, teachers and communities about the sources of energy we use in our society, the value of renewable solar energy in meeting current and future energy needs and solar energy technologies,” says Anita Randolph, Energy Center director.
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