A new National Solar Schools Consortium will facilitate resource sharing to teach students about solar and promote the use of solar energy at school campuses across the country.
The Consortium was launched at the recent National Science Teachers Association Conference, held in Boston. The group’s goals for the year 2020 include:
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20,000 solar installations at schools and universities.
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200 school districts with solar schools initiatives.
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2,000 member organizations
“It’s estimated that thousands of schools across America have already installed solar panels – but tens of thousands of others are still tethered to fossil fuels,” said Prof. Sharon Dannels, Chair of the Educational Leadership Department at the GW Graduate School of Education and Human Development.
“According to a recent study of California schools, an average-sized 313-kilowatt solar system prevents the emission of an estimated 200 pounds of smog-forming pollution a year,” she added.
The Consortium is made up of solar businesses as well as leading environmental, educational, and solar-focused non-profit organizations. Founding members include Mosaic, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), The Solar Foundation, and Women in Solar, sharing the vision that “every school in America will be equipped to give students meaningful learning experiences with renewable energy.”
“More and more schools across the country are discovering the benefits of going solar,” said Rhone Resch, president and CEO of SEIA.
“Today, solar is the fastest-growing source of renewable energy in America, creating thousands of new jobs, pumping billions of dollars into the U.S. economy and helping to reduce pollution. For schools, solar can provide a curriculum where science, economics and the environment all intersect,” he said.
Learn more at www.solarschools2020.org.
