Traverse City News and Events

Another Local School Goes Solar

Feb. 19, 2020

Westwoods Elementary School is poised to become be the third school in the Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) district to install solar panels on its premises. The school is roughly halfway to its fundraising goal for the solar power system and has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help raise the rest.

Westwoods began raising money for the solar project last fall, by way of a community can and bottle drive that raised more than $1,000. The school has since added to the fundraising total through proceeds from an auction, donations from local businesses, and grant dollars from both the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation and the Rotary Club of Traverse City.

In total, Westwoods has raised more than $12,000. The project, which will install a 32-panel, 10-kilowatt solar array on school property, is expected to cost $24,500. The school recently launched the “second phase” of its fundraising efforts on SolaRISE, a renewable energy crowdfunding services that is “powered” by Traverse City’s Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities. SolaRISE is intended specifically to help schools and nonprofit organizations raise money for solar installations and other renewable energy investments.

If all goes well with fundraising, the installation of the ground-mounted solar array will begin in June. The installation will coincide with a renovation of the Westwoods Elementary entrance area. The crowdfunding page notes that coordinating the solar installation with the renovation project will help reduce cost.

While the solar installation will generate a small amount of power for Westwoods, the school’s primary intention is to use the new array as an educational tool. The panels “will inspire learning about conservation, energy, the solar system, environment, math, data analysis, and responsible behavior.”

With this project, Westwoods is following in the footsteps of two TCAPS schools that have already installed on-site solar arrays. Traverse Heights Elementary installed a 10kW solar array in 2016, while Central High School implemented a 20kW system in 2018.

Comment

Munson Leaders Talk Busiest Week Ever, Strategies For Alleviating Capacity Strains

Read More >>

DDA Talks Moving Downtown Forward Plan, Downtown Events

Read More >>

Lang Lang Kicks Off New Classical Concert Series Ahead Of Interlochen Anniversary

Read More >>

Up North Pride Opens New Community Center

Read More >>

Free Backpack, Bike Helmet Giveaways For Youth

Read More >>

US-31 Pedestrian Footbridge Struck By Truck

Read More >>

Two Former Pit Spitters Players Are Off To Major League Baseball

Read More >>

TC’s Newest Brewery Prepares to Open; More Restaurant, Retail News

Read More >>

MSU Extension Plans New Home in Former TCAPS Building

Read More >>

How NMC’s Office Of Possibilities Became A Key Driver Of Local Innovation

Read More >>

TCAPS Approves Design Work for New Fieldhouse, Central High Reconstruction; Sabin Renovations OK’ed

Read More >>

News Updates: Peninsula Township to Appeal Winery Verdict, Vogel Separation Contract Approved

Read More >>

With No State Budget In Place, TCAPS Prepares For Uncertainty, District-Wide Belt-Tightening

Read More >>

Microplastics Are Everywhere, But Local Organizations Are Fighting Back

Read More >>