A good time was had by all at 
today’s ARTech solar electric (photovoltaic or PV) celebration. ARTech students Ryan Blankenberg and Kaya Lovestrand (right) led a student project in the 2007-2008 school year that culminated with the installation of a 2.08-kilowatt (kW) PV system this past July. The system provides electricity directly to the school, and includes sophisticated monitoring equipment so that system production, as well as environmental conditions (incoming solar irradiation, wind speed, ambient and panel temperature) can be displayed in real time and archived for analysis.
I played a supporting role in the project, and was thoroughly impressed with the students’ enthusiasm, commitment, willingness to tackle difficult problems, and general stick-to-itiveness.
Their work included fund-raising for the project, including a bike-a-thon, securing local project sponsors, and writing successful grant proposals (to Xcel Energy and the Southeast Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Team (SE CERT), and securing a solar rebate from the Minnesota Office of Energy Security).
Representatives from the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society, SE CERT, the Minnesota Office of Energy Security, and other project partners were on hand to celebrate this wonderful student-led project. It’s good to see proof positive such as this that today’s young folks are fired up and ready to make good things happen!