Oregon Public Broadcasting

In the midst of a dark and stormy day, it’s hard to get excited about solar power.  But that’s exactly what’s happening on Bainbridge Island, Friday. 

A middle school there is the 34th Northwest school to dedicate a solar array that they got more or less for free.  Correspondent Tom Banse reports.

The Portland-based Bonneville Environmental Foundation is orchestrating the “Solar 4R Schools” program. 

Local utilities, Bonneville Power and community donors are footing the bills.

Typically, participating schools get a six panel solar array.  That’s small.  It generates enough electricity for one computer, a television, and some lamps maybe.  

Foundation marketing director Siobhan Foley says the systems are intended to power students' minds more than the lights.

Siobhan Foley: “It’s a lot like say, for example when I was in school we learned a lot about recycling.  It wasn’t something we yet did at home.  It’s now something most of us do in our homes because we learned about it in school and it became second nature to us.”

Foley says dry and sunny Northwest summers make up for the weak solar power production this time of year.

Additional solar arrays are in the pipeline for six schools in Washington State, four in Oregon and three in Idaho.  The cost starts at $25,000 and goes up with size.

Online:

Bonneville Environmental Foundation