WASHINGTON — Multiple school districts across Washington are installing solar power systems that will generate energy at no cost to taxpayers or the districts themselves, freeing up thousands of dollars annually.
The Giving Grid program uses solar technology to fund school programs for an entire decade. Freeman School District recently installed a 100-kilowatt solar power system at its transportation building that could save the district $15,000 per year for the next 10 years.
The savings go directly back to students through programs that were previously inaccessible to many families.
“We set it up so each individual school district gets to choose what those priority needs are,” said Staci Nelson, director of grant services. “So in some cases that might be writing off lunch debts for students who can’t pay for lunch. For other students that might be sport or music fees.”
Freeman Superintendent Lisa Phelan said the district plans to use the savings to expand opportunities for all students.
“The different programs that we would seek out for them is to provide opportunities for all students to join robotics or our chess club or our extreme science because right now some of those are paid programs and it limits who can access them,” Phelan said.
The solar installation was completed at no cost to the district and will remain free for the next 10 years. The project is made possible through partnerships with Zero Emissions Northwest and Partners for Rural Washington, managed by Washington State University Energy.
David Funk, founder of Zero Emissions Northwest, personally oversees the day-to-day operations of the solar projects.
“You’re looking at the grounds crew. You’re looking at the person who you know monitors the project every day and I run the weed whackers and make sure they’re operating,” Funk said.
Zero Emissions Northwest has already installed solar panels in the Sprague and Colville school districts and has planned projects with 13 other districts across the state. Colville Superintendent Kevin Knight said the project benefits both the district and its students.
The next solar installation is scheduled for schools in Lamont in two weeks, with more projects planned throughout Washington in the coming months.
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