PG&E Announces Solar School and Bright Ideas Grant Winners
To: BUSINESS EDITORS
Contact: PG&E News Department, +1-415-973-5930
SACRAMENTO, Calif., March 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Hosting today a free one-day, solar-energy training course for teachers throughout northern and central California — Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced the 40 schools selected to receive installation of a 1.3 kilowatt solar generation system valued at $25,000. PG&E also announced the 42 schools chosen to receive up to $5,000 in “Bright Ideas” grants for their innovative solar science projects.
“Educating and inspiring our future leaders about the importance of renewable energy and environmental stewardship is critical as we seek to address the challenges of climate change,” said Ophelia Basgal, vice president of civic partnerships and community initiatives at PG&E. “We thank the participating teachers and schools who make this goal possible with their support and dedication.”
The PG&E Solar Schools Program includes installation of photovoltaic systems in public schools, a solar-based curriculum training package, workshops for teachers and “Bright Ideas” grants which support innovative solar science projects in classrooms. (The complete list of 2007 winners can be found below.) Each photovoltaic system generates 1.3 kilowatts of electricity, or enough to provide for the power needs of an entire classroom. Since its inception in 2004, PG&E has contributed $6 million to this shareholder-funded program which includes 100 schools and has trained over 2,000 teachers, benefiting nearly 100,000 students throughout PG&E’s northern and central California service area.
PG&E partners with leaders in the education sector and the solar industry to deliver the training and infrastructure associated with this program. The National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) manages curriculum training and administration of the “Bright Ideas” grants; the Foundation for Environmental Education coordinates installation of the donated photovoltaic systems.
PG&E’s award-winning Solar Schools Program is nationally recognized for teaching the value of alternative energy. The Solar Schools Program has been awarded the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s IREC Annual Innovation award, named “Education Innovator of the Year” by the San Francisco Business Times and received the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, California’s highest and most prestigious environmental honor.
The utility has a long history of making charitable grants tailored to the wide variety of needs in the communities it serves. The company’s broader program of support to communities includes cash grants, in-kind contributions, and volunteers for community- based nonprofit organizations, and for schools and other governmental programs throughout northern and central California. All charitable contributions are entirely funded by PG&E Corporation shareholders and the level of charitable giving does not affect gas and electric rates.
The 2007 PG&E Solar Schools and Bright Ideas Award Winners:
Schools Receiving $25,000 Solar Generation Systems
Starr King Elementary San Francisco
Lawton Elementary School San Francisco
Lafayette Elementary School San Francisco
Sunset Elementary San Francisco
Creative Arts Charter San Francisco
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic
Middle School San Francisco
Marshall Elementary School San Francisco
Argonne Elementary School San Francisco
Forty Niners’ Academy East Palo Alto
Bessie Carmichael San Francisco
Gateway High School San Francisco
Emery Secondary School Emeryville
San Lorenzo High School San Lorenzo
Skyline High School Oakland
Oakland Aviation High School Oakland
Irvington High School Fremont
New Brighten Middle School Soquel
Milpitas High School Engineering
Academy Milpitas
Hacienda Science/Environmental Magnet
School San Jose
Oceano Elementary School Oceano
Sierra Middle School Bakersfield
Madera South High School Madera
San Joaquin Elementary San Joaquin
South/West Park Elementary School Tracy
Soulsbyville Elementary School Soulsbyville
Ripona Elementary School Ripon
Shirley Rominger Intermediate School Winters
Grizzly Hill School Nevada City
Pioneer High School Woodland
Foothill High School Palo Cedro
Maxwell Elementary School Maxwell
Cottage Hill Elementary School Grass Valley
Marguerite Montgomery Elementary Davis
Middletown High School Middletown
Trinity Valley Elementary Willow Creek
Peninsula Union Elementary School Samoa
Laytonville High School Laytonville
Bahia Vista San Rafael
Willow Creek Academy Sausalito
Santa Rosa Charter School Santa Rosa
Schools Receiving up to $5,000 in “Bright Ideas” Grants
Glenview Elementary School Oakland
Fremont Elementary School Delano/Kern
Kathern R. Smith School San Jose
Marina Middle School San Francisco
Middle College High School Stockton
San Lorenzo High School San Lorenzo
Pacific Valley School Big Sur
Joe Nightingale Elementary School Santa Maria
Martin Murphy Middle School San Jose
Foothill Horizons Outdoor School Sonora
Paso Robles High School Paso Robles
Gateway High School San Francisco
Arena Union Elementary School Point Arena
Laneview Elementary School San Jose
Christensen Middle School Livermore
Pacific Community Charter High School Point Arena
Templeton Middle & High School Templeton
Niles Elementary School Fremont
Shasta Elementary School Manteca
Sierra Middle School Bakersfield
Venture Academy Stockton
Wanda Hirsch Elementary School Tracy
Fairview Elementary School Orland
Grace Patterson Elementary School Vallejo
Murwood Elementary School Walnut Creek
John Muir Elementary School San Francisco
Sunset Middle School Bakersfield
Skyline High School Oakland
Hacienda Science/Environmental Magnet San Jose
San Juan High School Citrus Heights
Fowler High School Fowler
Plainfield Elementary School Woodland
Yolo Middle School Newman
Lone Tree Elementary School Beale AFB
Sir Francis Drake High School San Anselmo
YCOE/ROP at Pioneer High School Woodland
Madera South High School Fresno
Rancho Cotate High School Rohnert Park
Cupertino High School Cupertino
Winters High School Winters
Del Oro High School Loomis
Life Learning Academy Treasure Island
For more information about PG&E Solar Schools Program, please visit our web site at http://www.pge.com/solarschools
SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(c) 2008 U.S. Newswire. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.