More than 600 solar panels installed on the roof at Martin Public Schools began producing energy on Wednesday, Aug. 15, and local officials officially had a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday.
The Martin Board of Education in July 2017 green lighted the first phase of the solar project, financed for 10 years at $400,000 with an option to pay off the loan in year five or 10. Martin Public Schools entered into a lease purchase agreement with Verde Solutions of Chicago to install solar panels on the current K-12 facility roofs. The first phase alone will generate at least 40 percent of the district’s energy needs.
Martin Superintendent David Harnish opened the ribbon cutting with a brief synopsis of both the 17.1 million dollar bond project and the solar project.
“We are finally completing two projects, which addressed so many needs in our district” Harnish said. “Our project with the first phase alone, with 622 solar panels, will generate 198,222 kwh per year of electricity equivalent to powering about 20 homes.”
The superintendent added, “This phase of the project will save over 4,000 tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.”
Austin Marsman, MESSAGE Founder and Martin alum, was on hand for the event.
“It is a true honor to be here today, standing among a group of pioneers. A school solar project of this magnitude is historic and one of the very first in the state of Michigan. In a time when we see mass environmental chaos and disasters that scientists say are enhanced by climate change, we are making the much needed shift. The debate is over, it is time to talk solutions and face the realities of a warming climate. With technologies like solar energy, we can not only save the taxpayers money but we can save the environment which we all depend on.”
“We hope that as Martin Public Schools leads the state in environmental responsibility, we can help others find the same success. It is our hope that we can set the example for homeowners, municipalities, and school districts across the county, state, nation, and world. Tonight we are celebrating progress and look forward to the opportunities ahead as we explore more phases of the project and other ways to lessen our environmental footprint while increasing savings here at Martin Schools. For me, the project is a testament to the fact that we ALL can be part of the solution in this historic time of environmental distress.”
Marsman explained that the idea for this project was conceived when he and his friends were in sixth grade.
“It was first brought up after an after school study group watched the film ‘Kilowatt Ours’ by Jeff Barrie,” he said. “We were appalled by the devastation that is being caused in Appalachia and across the globe by coal mining. We knew one thing: it begins with us. From our energy usage at home to the enormous amount of energy used in schools, businesses and places of worship, we need to change the source and our habits.”
Marsman, along with a few others, began an education and activism club called MESSAGE to push for this change.
Classes began for Martin on Tuesday, Aug. 28.
(Photos provided by Austin Marsman)
