Newport News Teachers Trained in Solar Science Curriculum

Newport News Public Schools is investing in solar power – not only on top of its buildings – but also in the classrooms inside.

In January, the division offered a solar energy professional development program to more than 30 of its secondary teachers. The training was developed by National Energy Education Development (NEED) and provided by Sun Tribe Solar. Sun Tribe Solar has installed panels at multiple school sites across the city and has additional projects in development.

“Through these solar projects we were able to partner with NEED and provide high-quality training to teachers,” said Meghan Milo, Education Outreach Lead at Sun Tribe. “This is one of the ways that we empower teachers to connect what students learn about solar energy in the established curriculum with the solar installations on their rooftops.”

Each of the 35 teachers who participated also received his or her choice of classroom kits that will be used for fun, hands-on projects such as solar ovens.

Newport News has committed to long-term energy efficiency and taxpayer savings by planning solar arrays on a half dozen of its buildings with Sun Tribe Solar under Power Purchase Agreements. PPAs are contracts to sell energy at an agreed-upon price for a set period of time from a solar system installed on-site. During the 30-year agreements, the PPAs with Sun Tribe Solar are forecasted to generate an estimated 134.5 million kWh of solar energy for Newport News. That would equate to enough electricity to power 170,000 homes for one full year. The installations are built at no cost to the school district.