Pā‘ia Elementary Celebrates MECO’s Sun Power for Schools

Celebrating the new Sun Power for Schools partnership between Maui Electric and Pā‘ia Elementary School on Aug. 25: (left to right) Maui Electric’s Joe Streeter and David Tester; Representative Lynn DeCoite; Mayor Alan Arakawa; Pā‘ia School Principal Kehau Lu‘uwai; and Maui Electric President Sharon Suzuki. Photo provided by MECO.

By Maui Now Staff

Maui Electric Company and Pā‘ia Elementary School celebrated the installation of a demonstration photovoltaic system with a dedication ceremony and school assembly on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

The 1-kilowatt, grid-connected PV system is part of the Maui Electric Company’s Sun Power for Schools program that delivers a small amount of electricity to the school and provides teachers with a learning tool about renewable energy.

The system’s Internet-connected data system gathers information on the weather, amount of solar energy reaching the PV panels and amount of electricity the system is producing. Using a website portal, students are able to see the PV system’s daily, monthly and annual power output, and how the weather affects the system’s production.

Pā‘ia Elementary School joins 14 other Maui County schools that are participating in the Sun Power for Schools program, which started in October 1996 as a pilot program to demonstrate PV solar electric systems at select public schools.

The PV systems are funded through a partnership among the State of Hawai‘i Department of Education, participating schools, Maui Electric and members of the community.