Solar spectacular

SHORELINE — There’s some new energy at Meridian Park Elementary School, and it’s not just emanating from the teachers and students.

Meridian Park Elementary became the first public building in Shoreline to utilize solar electricity Oct. 2 when solar modules were activated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Installed on the roof of the music building at Meridian Park are eight solar modules that will produce 2.4 kilowatts of electric power for the school, an amount equivalent to the needs of an energy-efficient home.

The flip of the switch was the outcome of a coordinated effort to bring a renewable energy program to the school by the Shoreline Solar Project and Seattle City Light’s Green Power Program.

Shoreline Solar Project co-founder Larry Owens welcomed community members, school district officials and politicians to Meridian Park in celebration of the city’s first step toward renewable energy.

Along with the eight modules currently in place, Owens said the side of the music building at Meridian Park will soon receive a smaller solar module that teachers will be able to utilize as an educational tool. For example, teachers will have the opportunity to show students how the change in solar energy received increases and decreases the electricity generated.

Superintendent Jim Welsh, school board member Jim Leigh, Meridian Park principal Flip Herndon, Shoreline Mayor Ron Hansen, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Bainbridge, Democratic 32nd District Reps. Ruth Kagi and Maralyn Chase and Shoreline City Council members Maggie Fimia and Bob Ransom attended the ceremony and spoke about the project.

Owens said a school is an ideal location for the system. As a proponent of renewable energy, Owens believes educating the community about the environment and alternative energy sources is crucial.

“By putting it on a public building, particularly a school, hundreds of students will learn about renewable energy,” Owens said.

Many people who spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony agreed with Owens.

“I think we’re very fortunate to have this system at our school,” Herndon said. “The students will have the benefit of learning about alternative energy.”

Leigh said he believes it is important to expose children to alternative energy sources at an early age.

“The best thing is to start them young,” Leigh said. “We need to teach kids from the ground up.”

Plans for incorporating the modules into classroom curriculum have yet to be determined, Owens said. Owens described the installation as a demonstration system that will benefit the school most through its educational value.

“Teachers and students (can) come to understand and appreciate how important renewable energy is to their future,” Owens said. “Now’s the time to educate.”

He compared renewable energy to recycling, in that years ago, recycling was a great idea but was not widely practiced. Now, everyone has curbside recycling.

Owens hopes renewable energy will similarly become part of people’s mindsets.

The Green Power Project funded all of the equipment for the Meridian Park modules, and the school district handled the installation. Green Power, within Seattle City Light, is funded through donations that are not included in regular bills. The funds are used to increase the development of new sources of renewable energy, which includes solar projects at public and non-profit agencies.

Green Power Program manager Jack Brautigam also attended the ceremony and complimented the strong relationship created between Seattle City Light and Shoreline as a result of the solar project.

“This is the best support we’ve had with any of these projects,” Brautigam said.

He added that the project at Meridian Park will serve as an example to other school and community projects.

“The bottom line is education,” Brautigam said. “It’s not just the students, it’s the community.”

The installation at Meridian Park is the first outside of city limits. Other locations with solar projects include Ballard High School, Woodland Park Zoo, McCaw Performance Hall at the Seattle Center and Carkeek Park.

Owens said he hopes this project will be the first of many within the school district to teach students about renewable and alternative energy options, and he said Shoreline Solar Project members are looking at ways to bring more opportunities to Shoreline.