The small-town high school sat brooding. Costs for everything are continually rising, and there just isn’t enough money to serve her students as she should. “Golly,” she lamented, “expenses keep going up. Just look at this annual electricity bill; it’s over $200,000! Loads of school districts across Wisconsin facing the same problem are adding solar to slash their electricity costs. If only we could find some seed money to do that.”
Little did the school know that at that very moment Tom, Dick and Mary had gathered to consider that very thing. “I bet there are lots of generous community members who would help fund a pilot /demo solar array,” Tom surmised. “Do you think we could raise $25,000?” Everyone agreed to begin talking with their friends and local civic organizations.
As they headed out the door, Dick commented, “If only there were grants that could help with this.” “Duh…” Mary chided, “Are you kidding? Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy program helps defer some of the cost to add solar. And the federal government’s Inflation Reduction Act will allow us to cut 30% of the installation cost.”
Later that week, Tom was visiting a prominent local businessman. “Donations are coming in nicely,” he commented. “Now, if only we could find some donated solar panels.” The businessman smiled. “Let me show you something.” They drove to a near-by farm. “These 30 panels are still under warranty, but I need them removed for a building renovation. Would these help?”
At the school board meeting that month, board members learned about the funds coming in and the solar panel donation. “Wow!” one member cheered.” Now, if only we only had a teacher trained to lead the hands-on educational opportunities our students could experience with an array. “Well, guess what,” the superintendent winked. “Our environmental ed. teacher will be attending a 3-day training this summer. She’ll bring back over $1,000 of free solar-teaching curricula and materials with her!”
“Golly,” the high school smiled. “Almost $25,000 raised, grants to help cut costs, donated panels, a highly-trained teacher, and a supportive school board and administration. That’s the kind of ‘solar soup’ I’m talking about! With everyone contributing what they can we’ll be reducing both costs and pollution. We’re helping create the livable future we all need here on our only home where we’re all forever… Earthbound.”
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