St Rose, GM Partnership May Develop

Solar Canopy Pilot Project

By John Voket

A public hearing August 20 on a proposal to enter into a solar lease project that will be located at Newtown Middle School served as a platform for a representative from St Rose parish to announce an exciting, first-of-its-kind project to develop a solar-powered classroom kiosk on the grounds of the parish school.

James Walsh, who is chairing a parish committee working on the project, told members of the Board of Selectmen that General Motors has offered to partner in developing the sustainable solar canopy pilot. He said the standalone structure will serve as a satellite classroom designed to teach students about environmental sustainability, as well as generating solar power that will help lower the electric usage at the school.

According to Mr Walsh, Mary Alice Kurtz, a GM manager of renewables and energy, spent two days in town recently speaking with St Rose and community representatives about the pilot project.

Contacted by The Bee in Detroit, Ms Kurtz explained that the project plans are still in their early stages, but she said as far as she was concerned, the pilot at St Rose “is definitely a go.” She added, however, that there are still final approvals on both the part of GM and the town that have to be completed.

Mr Walsh said the development of this solar canopy has been fast-tracked as the second phase of a multiphase development of playground and other facilities at the parish school on Church Hill Road. He said since the completed playspace at the school is specifically oriented for younger children, the standalone structure will serve as both an educational and recreational place for the school’s older students.

The solar canopy installation will apparently be the anchor to a larger project that will also incorporate a native wildlife “habitat” that will be particularly attractive to butterflies, hummingbirds, and other native bird species. Mr Walsh said his committee is poised to begin presenting plans for this second phase development at the school in the coming weeks.

Mr Walsh was excited about the prospect of the facility integrating reused products from GM’s auto assembly process as part of the overall project.

“We’re looking at, for example, ways to reuse scrap automotive components and transforming them into bat and nesting houses in the playground area,” he said.

He added that his committee members, as well as other parish members and community officials have been working tirelessly to bring this new development to fruition.

“My take on this, besides the sustainability factor, is it will help educate our children and maybe eventually children all over the world. They will be the ones helping our planet and mankind to survive,” Mr Walsh said.

Ms Kurtz said that once completed, the solar-powered facility would be a space where students can study topics about environmental sustainability and wildlife habitat.

“Lessons could focus on material reuse, landfill use reduction, renewable solar energy, rainwater capture and reuse, and teach the children how they can play a role and contribute to these practices,” Ms Kurtz said.

The private use of the solar canopy system has grown from a program rolling out at Chevy dealerships across the nation, she added.

Rob Sibley, Newtown’s deputy director of planning and land use, said he was involved in local meetings with St Rose representatives and Ms Kurtz when she visited the community several months ago.

“The project is designed to have positive environmental impact, not only because of the solar power generation component, but through the accompanying habitat diversification that new landscaping adjustments will produce.”

He said the four kilowatt generation system proposed on the site will entail installing a canopy structure and attached solar panels, which will be eight to ten feet off the ground with benches or seats beneath where students can sit during lessons.

Mr Sibley said he was excited to see this type of project being launched in the community following the two public solar projects in process at the town’s wastewater treatment plant and at Newtown Middle School.