Published: March 01, 2010
Westover School Crosses Green Cup Finish Line with Solar Energy System Ribbon-Cutting Event
MIDDLEBURY, Conn. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Westover School, a private girls' high school in Middlebury, has
completed a nation-wide Green Cup Challenge, aided by a 158.60 kW solar
energy system on two campus rooftops. On February 26, 2010, Westover
held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the solar system. The ceremony was
attended by students, parents, community members, and state officials,
including Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.
"Competing against other schools in the Green Cup Challenge for the
lowest electrical meter readings heightened our awareness of the amount
of energy we're saving with our new solar photovoltaic (PV) system,"
said Ann S. Pollina, head of school at Westover. "Combined with our
other conservation efforts, including a co-generator, our new PV system
will help us reduce the electricity we consume from the grid by 37.5%,
results that we can see already."
Pollina continued, "Our conservation efforts play an important role in
preparing students for a 21st century energy economy. This PV
system provides an excellent opportunity to integrate renewables into
our Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) program."
Lindsey Holder, a senior boarding student from Atlanta, Georgia, said,
"As a senior and a member of the Westover Environmental Action
Committee, I am so excited and proud that such a long-lasting
conservation effort has been brought to life. I am looking forward to
learning how the solar panels will be integrated into the curriculum for
Westover's Women in Science Education (WISE) program."
Like all nonprofits, Westover originally faced a financial hurdle to
going solar because it was unable to take advantage of federal and state
tax credits to lower the cost of the installation. Westover overcame
this barrier by entering into a 20 year solar Power Purchase Agreement
(PPA) with California-based Solar Power Partners, Inc. (SPPTM),
backed by US Bank.
Under the terms of the solar PPA, SPP owns, operates, and maintains the
system and sells the electricity generated by the solar panels back to
Westover at a fixed rate for the life of the contract. With no money
down, Westover is able to save on their electricity rates, hedge against
raising rates, lower their carbon footprint with clean energy. The
system also serves as an excellent topic of education for students.
SPP contracted with Alteris Renewables, ranked on the Inc. 500 as the
fastest-growing company in Connecticut, to design, engineer, build, and
maintain the system. Alteris brings to the table the reliability
required by SPP as the owner of the system.
The solar system will produce an estimated 180,487 kilowatts per hour
(kWh) in the first year of operation, which is equivalent to annual
emissions from 14,600 gallons of gas, or 25 passenger vehicles. The
project contributes to Westover's green initiative program, which
includes natural gas line installations. The solar system was installed
on two buildings, including a dormitory that was built in 1909.
"SPP's commitment to helping Westover School embrace solar energy in a
cost-effective, no-risk way is a great example of the momentum SPP has
built across the nation," said Bob Powell, president and CEO of Solar
Power Partners. "We're particularly pleased to count Westover in our
roster of successful school and university solar projects, and look
forward to continuing to contribute to the green transformation and
environmental stewardship in public and private schools across the
country."
"We are proud to work with a leading private institution like Westover
School and commend them on the steps they have taken as part of the
Green Cup Challenge," said Ron French, president of Alteris Renewables'
Solar Business. "Westover is the eleventh school in the state with
Alteris-installed solar panels. Through this project Westover is
participating in a growing trend in education to show environmental
leadership through their commitment to clean solar energy and energy
efficiency."
This clean energy project was made possible in part by a grant from the
Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. "We are pleased to have supported this
second solar installation at Westover School," said Lise Dondy,
president of Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF). "Westover, which has
renewed and strengthened its support of clean energy with this system,
is one of the state's 20-plus early adopters of clean energy among
educational institutions. Because of these leaders, we now have a strong
pipeline of additional schools that will be installing clean energy
systems in the near term, teaching us all that we have the power to make
a difference."
Created by schools for schools, the Green Cup Challenge (GCC) is the
original student-driven inter-school energy challenge. The GCC invites
all schools to measure and reduce electricity use and Greenhouse Gas
emissions, and supports greening efforts including recycling and water
conservation. The Challenge empowers students and builds community,
while raising awareness about climate change and the importance of
resource conservation. Winners will be announced shortly.
About Westover School
Westover is a selective boarding school of 200 girls, grades 9 - 12,
from 18 states and 16 countries, and is located in a classic New England
town near New York City. We prepare our students to meet the challenges
of the world's best colleges. The mission of Westover School is to
provide an environment that inspires the intellectual, artist, athlete,
and philosopher in each student. Westover challenges young women to
think independently, to embrace diversity, and to grow intellectually
and spiritually. Westover encourages in each student integrity,
responsibility, and commitment to community.
About Solar Power Partners (SPP)
One of America's premier independent solar power producers, Solar Power
Partners, Inc. (SPP) helps businesses, municipalities, schools and
universities, and institutional customers embrace solar energy. SPP
develops, owns, and operates distributed solar energy facilities (SEFs)
and sells solar-generated electricity through solar Power Purchase
Agreements (PPA), long-term energy financing solutions that help
customers go green without the hassles or costs of solar facility
ownership and maintenance.
About Alteris Renewables
Alteris Renewables is the largest design-build renewable energy company
in the Northeast, with more than 15 MW installed for over 3,000
customers over the past thirty years and more than a dozen offices
across six states. Ranked as one of the top ten fastest growing energy
companies in the Inc. 500, Alteris provides turn-key solar electric
(photovoltaic or PV), solar thermal, and wind energy solutions for
commercial, residential, education, government and institutional
clients. The company has industry-leading expertise in engineering,
design, project management, performance analysis, project financing and
renewable energy credit programs. More information about the company can
be found on the website, www.AlterisInc.com.
About the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF)
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) was created by the Connecticut
General Assembly and is funded by the electric ratepayers. CCEF's
mission is to promote, develop and invest in clean energy sources for
the benefit of Connecticut's ratepayers in order to strengthen
Connecticut's economy, protect community health, improve the
environment, and promote a secure energy supply for the state. CCEF is
administered by Connecticut Innovations, a quasi-public authority. For
more information on CCEF, please visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6196679&lang=en
Westover School:
Kristin White, 203-577‐4513
kwhite@westoverschool.org
or
Solar
Power Partners:
Sierra Fong, 415-877‐1455
sfong@solarpowerpartners.com
or
Connecticut
Clean Energy Fund:
Emily Smith, 860-257‐2337
emily.smith@ctinnovations.com
or
Alteris
Renewables:
Green Machine PR
Jo Lee, 401-338‐5445
jo@greenmachinepr.com
Copyright © 2012, Business Wire, Inc., All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2012, NewsBlaze,
Daily News
Search News
