You can sense the excitement in Bob Rice’s voice as we walked among the solar arrays, nearly completed just south of HSE Intermediate/Junior High School (HIJH), at Cyntheanne Road and Southeastern Parkway.  Rice, Energy Management Director for HSE Schools,  says the solar operation there will begin powering the HIJH school building in the next 2-3 weeks.

The next project will provide another array, providing electricity for Sand Creek Elementary and Intermediate Schools.

The HSE School Corporation entered into a contract with Ameresco Inc. in January of this year, to install the $2.8 million solar project.  The work is being financed by a four-year bond issue which is not expected to trigger a tax increase.

At the time the school board approved the plan, Rice projected the solar arrays will pay for themselves in 11 years through electricity cost savings.

Students will be able to use the solar arrays as part of their science curriculum.

“Our partnership with Ameresco has already allowed us to invest in projects that directly benefit our students and create a more sustainable learning environment at our schools,” said Dr. Allen Bourff, Superintendent of Hamilton Southeastern Schools, in an Ameresco news release. “The curriculum Ameresco provided will help our teachers educate their students about the latest innovations in renewable energy technology and the importance of sustainability for the future of our environment.”

Once the arrays at HIJH and Sand Creek are completed, it will consist of 4,800 solar panels.