USD 224's Clean and Renewable Energy Site Constructed at CCHS!
by Brian Pekarek
During the fall semester, the USD 224 School District constructed a wind turbine and a solar-powered water pump at the new "USD 224 Clean and Renewable Energy Site" on the Clifton-Clyde High School Football Complex. The wind and solar-powered technologies were paid for by multiple grants and donations from foundations, companies, local businesses, and local community members.
The purpose of the solar and wind energy site is to educate the students, staff, and community on the benefits of clean and renewable energy and energy efficiency. Another purpose of the site is to teach about the changing job market in the United States towards clean and renewable energy sources (Note: Research data from Kansas Green Schools shows that 1/6 of the jobs in the United States will deal with clean and renewable energy by 2025.). In addition to this, the public is learning about the clean and renewable energy through CCHS Student Council presentations at home football games this season.
The final aspect of the project is to erect a greenhouse at the site that will use the electricity from the wind turbine and the water from the solar-powered well to grow plants through a hydroponic gardening system. Some of the grant funding as already been acquired for the greenhouse, and USD 224 is in the process of securing the rest of the funding very soon.
Check back to the website at a later time and we will have more updated information about the "USD 224 Clean and Renewable Energy Site." You may also check out the data collected from the wind turbine and solar-powered water pump if you click on the "Renewable Energy" Button on the front page of the USD 224's website.
Additional Notes: Recently, the USD 224 Clean and Renewable Energy Project was featured on 27 News. If you missed the presentation, you can follow this link to the site:
You can also hear a radio broadcast of the project on KCLY 100.9 FM from Clay Center from this link:
http://www.kclyradio.com/newskcly.htm
(The radio broadcast was during the Thursday, Sept. 17th and Friday, Sept. 18th news announcement times. It can be heard on the Thursday morning, Thursday, evening, and Friday noon news hours if you click on the above site.)
