Oceano school awarded solar energy system

Oceano Elementary School has been awarded a $25,000 solar energy system that children can study and monitor, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. officials said Tuesday.

PG&E also awarded three $5,000 grants to Joe Nightingale Elementary School in Orcutt, Templeton Middle and High schools, and Paso Robles High School.

Oceano Elementary Principal Tom Butler said the school is “very excited” for the opportunity for the children to personally learn about solar power.

PG&E will install the 1.3 kilowatt solar generation or photovoltaic system. According to PG&E, the system generates “enough to provide for the power needs of an entire classroom.”

Jim DeCecco, the sixth-grade teacher who applied for the grant, said he hopes it will give students a greater awareness about energy.

“I'm excited to have them installed and the ways it will benefit the school - by lowering the energy bill - and it's a great promotional gig for solar energy,” DeCecco said. He added that he hopes the panel will be in place before school starts this fall.

Holly Edds, the principal at Joe Nightingale Elementary School, said the school has many project ideas that could use the grant money.

“We're thinking we might apply it to a solar-powered fountain or running irrigation, lighting or a compost bin through solar panels,” Edds said.

The school is in the developmental stages of a school garden and people there are looking forward to all of the opportunities a garden will provide.

Edds said third-grade teacher Lisa Cooper applied for the PG&E grant last year after attending a workshop in Santa Maria.

Sam Womack can be reached at 739-2218 or swomack@santamariatimes.com.

March 19, 2008