Gladstone Area Schools apply $50,000 grant toward gathering and studying solar energy

The next generation of green entrepreneurs is learning about solar power the hands-on way at Gladstone High School. The school recently got a grant from Energy Works Michigan through the Michigan Renewable Schools Program that includes a solar panel to help power the school.

"What this grant will do is provide us with a 2-kilowatt photovoltaic solar system," says Gladstone Area School District Superintendent Jay Kulbertis. The student body can see how the solar panel is doing from a display panel at the school, while the public can check it out on an interactive website tracking the solar power system's statistics. The energy it creates will be going into the high school's power system.

The grant is worth $50,000, with a local match. The $12,000 needed to match the $38,000 grant came from the city of Gladstone and WPPI Energy.

Solar power is just one of a variety of things the high school and middle school have done to focus on renewability and sustainability. Green Energy clubs at each school have been very active in recycling, reducing waste, and finding ways to green the schools.

"Their goal is to kind of keep the pressure on all of us, to be better environmental stewards and consumers," Kulbertis says, adding the clubs have done a lot to get the schools recognized as Michigan Green Schools.

The solar panel also will benefit physics classes, where students will observe the panel and learn first-hand about solar power.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Jay Kulbertis, Gladstone Area Schools