Verona Area High School Solar Panel Project

Sustain Verona is a local advocacy organization that was formed in 2024 to help the community live more sustainably. Sustain Verona is raising funds to help the Verona Area School District (VASD) put a 500 panel solar array on the Verona Area High School roof. The solar panel array will produce up to 300 kW of electricity. 

The estimated cost of the project is about $500,000. Sustain Verona hopes to fundraise to cover the cost of at least half of that. The Verona Area Education Foundation (VAEF) is serving as the fiscal agent for the project.

There are three main benefits for the school and community from this project. First, the solar array will produce “clean” electricity (no carbon emissions) and prevent up to 200 tons per year of CO2 emissions. This is the equivalent of a year’s worth of emissions from 50 automobiles. Over the 30-year lifetime of the panels, this would add up to preventing more than 6,000 tons of CO2 emissions.

The second benefit to the community is in cost savings. The project would save almost $1 million dollars in purchased electricity over its lifetime and would effectively pay for itself by year 15. The cost savings can be used by the school district for other purposes like instructional costs, school amenities, student needs, etc.

The third benefit is more intangible, but this project can show students and the community that the use of clean energy is not only possible, but practical as well.

Together, we can work toward a future in which we don’t burn fossil fuels and stop polluting our planet, and more importantly start living that future.

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