Thacher School Goes Solar with Help from Senior Class

California's Thacher School is installing a 676,139-watt solar power system, thanks to the school's senior class gift and additional funding from a foundation.

The ground-mounted system, to be installed by Sullivan Solar Power, will offset 1.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year and will help the school as it seeks to earn Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification for a new dining hall. Featuring 2,898 265-watt Kyocera panels, the installation will produce more than 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of energy annually.

"We live in a place with so much sunshine where it makes sense to think about solar," said Ed Bennett, director of facilities for the Thacher School, in a prepared statement. "We are looking at 81 percent electrical usage covered by our solar array, and more than a 35 percent greenhouse gas reduction."

Students will be able to access the project's monitoring site for use in education by, for example, calculating data depending on different weather conditions.

"Per the Thacher School's goals, we wanted to use the solar system as a learning tool thereby integrating it with other sustainable exhibits we intend to demonstrate on site", said Jeff Smitley, managing principal of Bold Rock Energy Group, the general contractor who selected Sullivan Solar Power for the project, in a prepared statement. "We chose Sullivan Solar Power because of their experience as well as price."

The school will also earn credits from Southern California Edison's net energy metering program for any energy it puts back into the grid. Though net metering is ending in the state, the school will be grandfathered in for 20 years.

"Our savings from solar are two fold — most of the money will go back into helping fund other sustainability projects," added Bennett. "Other savings will also help improve our environmental and sustainable programs."

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  •  laptop on a clean desk with digital padlock icon on the screen

    Data Privacy a Top Concern as Orgs Scale Up AI Agents

    As organizations race to integrate AI agents into their cloud operations and workflows, they face a crucial reality: while enthusiasm is high, major adoption barriers remain, according to a new Cloudera report. Chief among them is the challenge of safeguarding sensitive data.

  • robot waving

    Copilot Updates Aim to Personalize AI

    Microsoft has introduced a range of updates to its Copilot platform, marking a new phase in its effort to deliver what it calls a "true AI companion" that adapts to individual users' needs, preferences and routines.

  • Rebind platform

    Grant Program to Give Free Access to AI-Powered Reading Platform

    E-reading publishing company Rebind has announced a new "Classics in the Classroom" grant program for United States high school and college educators, providing free access to the company's AI-powered reading platform for the Fall 2025 term.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.