Massachusetts School's Solar Canopy Completed

Solect Energy owns and operates the array and sells the power back to Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School at a reduced, fixed rate for the duration of the agreement. The company reports the project was completed and commissioned at zero cost to the school.

Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, a public vocational-technical high school in Bourne, Mass., now boasts a 663-kilowatt (kW) solar canopy in its parking lot, thanks to its partnership with Solect Energy of Hopkinton, Mass., and Green Seal Environmental of Sagamore Beach, Mass. Besides powering the school, the solar array will provide power (and cost savings) to the Bourne Rec Authority. The array became a reality through a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Solect Energy.

The school has 725 students and 13 areas of vocational study; it offers traditional vocational programs in plumbing, electrical, carpentry, health careers, information technology, marine services, automotive technology, collision repair, and cosmetology, as well as engineering technology, environmental science, and horticulture/landscape contracting. The solar canopy enhances its curriculum by showcasing renewable technology in a live setting to students and staff.

"We are thrilled about the addition of the new solar canopy to our school," said Bob Dutch, superintendent at UCT. "The solar array marks a new venture for Upper Cape Cod Tech's students and staff, who will be able to utilize the technology as part of their curriculum. We are especially thankful to Solect for enabling our school to experience significant savings on our energy costs."

The school worked with Green Seal Environmental to develop, design, and permit the array, while Solect financed and constructed the system through a Power Purchase Agreement. Solect owns and operates the array and sells the power back to UCT at a reduced, fixed rate for the duration of the agreement. The company reports the project was completed and commissioned at zero cost to UCT, and the clean energy provided to them and the Bourne Rec Authority will reduce their current energy costs. "It was a pleasure partnering with Upper Cape Cod Tech on this project," said Ken Driscoll, CEO of Solect Energy. "It is a wonderful thing to provide schools with solar energy, as the benefits are plentiful to the school, its students and staff, and the environment—even more so with UCT, as the array is helping to power Bourne's Recreation Authority as well."

"Green Seal was pleased to initiate and co-develop this project with Solect for UCT," added Heather Twiss, president of Green Seal Environmental. "As a locally owned firm in Bourne, it's exciting offer renewable energy solutions for UCT in an environment where students can also learn from these emerging technologies on campus."