Private Elementary School Goes Solar

A private, all-girl elementary school in New Jersey is getting its own solar installation with the help of a state program that finances clean energy projects.

According to information released this month by Arosa Solar, the company that will install the solar system, Bais Rivka Rochel received a 0 percent loan under the Clean Energy Solutions Capital Investment loan program administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in order to help defray the cost of the project. Arosa helped the school obtain the loan. The program has since stopped accepting applications, according to information on NJEDA's site.

Arosa said the 330 kilowatt installation will save the religious school thousands of dollars per year in energy costs and help reduce the school's carbon footprint.

"We are proud to be one of the few that persevered to see this loan thru to its end. With this investment we can help this New Jersey school go solar and save over $55,000 a year and conserve almost 5,000 barrels of oil," said Shimmy Tessler, owner of Arosa Solar, in a prepared statement.

Arosa said that most such systems pay for themselves within four years and then start generating income for the school. This is the second such school installation the company has performed recently. The previous one was back in November at Bnos Bais Yaakov, an all-girl high school in New Jersey.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • Abstract AI circuit board pattern

    Nonprofit LawZero to Work Toward Safer, Truthful AI

    Turing Award-winning AI researcher Yoshua Bengio has launched LawZero, a nonprofit aimed at developing AI systems that prioritize safety and truthfulness over autonomy.

  • abstract pattern of cybersecurity, ai and cloud imagery

    Report Identifies Malicious Use of AI in Cloud-Based Cyber Threats

    A recent report from OpenAI identifies the misuse of artificial intelligence in cybercrime, social engineering, and influence operations, particularly those targeting or operating through cloud infrastructure. In "Disrupting Malicious Uses of AI: June 2025," the company outlines how threat actors are weaponizing large language models for malicious ends — and how OpenAI is pushing back.

  • tutor and student working together at a laptop

    You've Paid for Tutoring. Here's How to Make Sure It Works.

    As districts and states nationwide invest in tutoring, it remains one of the best tools in our educational toolkit, yielding positive impacts on student learning at scale. But to maximize return on investment, both financially and academically, we must focus on improving implementation.

  • red brick school building with a large yellow "AI" sign above its main entrance

    New National Academy for AI Instruction to Provide Free AI Training for Educators

    In an effort to "transform how artificial intelligence is taught and integrated into classrooms across the United States," the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic, and the United Federation of Teachers, is launching the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million initiative that will provide access to free AI training and curriculum for all AFT members, beginning with K-12 educators.