Walmart launches Solar Schools Program at Einstein Middle School

By Craig Degginger, Shoreline Schools

Einstein Middle School in Shoreline is the first school in the Puget Sound region to be equipped with solar panels as part of a $1.2 million donation from Walmart to the National Energy Education Development Project (NEED).

The Solar Schools grant will provide each school with the renewable energy technology along with curriculum, teacher training and hands-on science kits. The installations will serve as living science experiments for the students. In addition to Seattle, schools in Chicago, Washington D.C., Minneapolis and Los Angeles will also participate in this program.

Photo: students prepare to explain their science exhibits.  Photo by Steven H. Robinson.

"Walmart is committed to providing support throughout our communities to improve education and promote renewable energy, such as solar panels" said Jennifer Spall, Walmart Senior Manager of Public Affairs and Government Relations. (Photo, left, by Steven H. Robinson.) "By partnering with local educational institutions, like the Shoreline School District and Shoreline Community College, as well as organizations like NEED, we believe the Solar Schools Program will have a lasting effect on the future of the Puget Sound region."

"The Shoreline School District is pleased to be partnering with Walmart, NEED, and Shoreline Community College as part of the Solar Schools Program. We are excited that our science students at Einstein Middle School will have the opportunity to utilize this renewable energy technology, and at the same time, our District will experience savings in energy costs," said Shoreline Schools Superintendent Sue Walker.

Photo: Kristi Camp explains solar kit with oven.  Photo by Steven H. Robinson.

The four solar installations are expected to annually:

* generate approximately 28,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity,

* save the schools more than $3,000 in energy costs and

* prevent more than 20 tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.

The panels for the area schools will all be manufactured by Silicon Energy from Arlington, Wash. and installed by Galaxy Electric with the help of Shoreline Community College students involved in the photovoltaic program to provide students with hands-on solar design experience.

Photo: Don Pruett from NEED. Photo by Steven H. Robinson

In addition to aligning with Walmart's renewable energy goal and commitment to education and teachers, this grant will help create and sustain green jobs. According to NEED, this program will help support green jobs, including engineering, design and installer technician jobs.