MANCHESTER – Seven technical high schools, including one in Danbury, have begun construction solar energy projects thanks to the state Technical Education and Career System, Department of Administrative Services, the Connecticut Green Bank and Verogy.
When completed, the solar energy projects, including rooftop and carport installations, will collectively deliver 4.6 MW of clean, renewable energy to the schools. Additionally, CTECS will save nearly $6 million in energy costs over the lifetime of the panels while reducing carbon emissions by the equivalent of approximately 2,290 metric tons annually.
The projects will also incorporate a workforce development component, offering both classroom and on-site learning opportunities for students at each school where projects are underway.
CTECS Executive Director Dr. Alice Pritchard, DAS Commissioner Michelle Gilman, Connecticut Green Bank President and CEO Bryan Garcia, and Verogy CEO Will Herchel were joined by state and local officials and other project partners at a ceremonial groundbreaking event for a 756.8-kilowatt (kW) carport system serving Howell Cheney Technical High School in Manchester, one of the schools benefiting from solar.
“This solar project represents so much more than an investment in clean energy, it’s also an investment in our students by giving them exposure to technologies that are shaping the future of their industries,” said Pritchard. “At the same time, the energy savings generated by these systems allow us to redirect operational funds into other programmatic areas.”
In addition to the carport system serving Howell Cheney Technical High School, the other schools benefiting from the new solar energy systems include:
- W.F. Kaynor Technical High School (Waterbury) – 448.8 kW rooftop system
- A.I. Prince Technical High School (Hartford) – 170.5 kW rooftop system
- Eli Whitney Technical High School (Hamden) – 756.8 kW rooftop and carport systems
- Emmett O’Brien Technical High School (Ansonia) – 897.6 kW rooftop and carport systems
- Henry Abbott Technical High School (Danbury) – 616 kW carport system
- H.H. Ellis Technical High School (Danielson) – 959.2 kW roof and carport system
“By investing in solar power at our technical high schools, we’re not only reducing our carbon footprint,” Gilman said. “We’re also preparing the next generation of skilled workers, trained at these technical high schools, to thrive in a green economy.”
The Connecticut Green Bank played a major role in the financing of the projects.
“Through our Solar Marketplace Assistance Program Plus (Solar MAP+), we help state agencies, municipalities, school districts, and affordable housing providers install solar and storage, making the benefits of these technologies more affordable and accessible through our no cost technical and financial assistance,” Garcia said.
Verogy, a West Hartford solar energy company, includes a project manager who knows the importance of hands-on experience.
“As a graduate of Wilcox Tech’s Electrical Program, I know how valuable hands-on technical education can be,” said Torre Babich, project manager at Verogy and a Wolcott native. “I started my journey in the electrical trade right here in Connecticut, earning my diploma and completing 2,000 hours of classroom training.
“Having supported the launch of the engineering phase of the CTECS solar projects, it’s incredibly rewarding to see them move forward, bringing clean energy to schools while offering students the same kind of real-world experience that launched my own career.”
