RE Jewell Elementary School in Bend celebrated the installation of its solar panels on Friday.
“The school district has adopted a new sustainability plan. We’re looking to increase our renewable capacity so that’s a big thing the district is doing to try and increase our capacity,” Jackie said. Mueller, district sustainability and energy specialist. “This is thanks to funding from Blue Sky and Pacific Power.”
The students were given a lesson on renewable resources and solar energy.
“It’s very interesting, and I find it interesting and cool,” said student Madison Jordan.
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Children even want to show what they have learned.
“Solar energy is better because it’s a … I forget what it’s called … but it’s been around forever instead of coal or things we burn like fossil fuels,” said fifth grader Alia Coursen.
The students had time to learn outside the classroom as well, using solar energy in a toy car that each of the students made.
“I thought it was cool how the sunlight connecting this tiny little solar panel could do it so fast,” said Addie Pennock, student.
Like the toy cars, J
“It’s approximately 4,000 kilowatt hours per year, and we’re looking at three to five thousand dollars per year,” Mueller said.
Jewell is not the first school in Bend-La Pine to use green energy.
“Miller Elementary School and Roselin both have solar panels. Lava Elementary School had a large grant where they got a large solar panel array,” Mueller said.
And this is not the end.
“We’ll start looking at others as we go down the line,” Mueller said.