Featured photo from TN School Board Association Journal article, Summer 2017
Attaching solar panels with guidance of Fayetteville Public Utilities
While taking my first engineering class in high school, I was captivated by the idea of green energy and the opportunities solar power can bring to rural communities. This interest eventually sparked my plan to bring a few solar panels to my school at the time, Fayetteville High School (FHS), in Lincoln County, TN.
After writing, submitting, and publicly presenting a proposal for approval to the Fayetteville City Schools (FCS) Board of Education, I secured official permission to begin designing and fundraising for a solar project for FHS.
It took much fundraising to get this project off the ground, including: selling donated student light bulb paintings and my own cupcakes at a local craft show, participating in an open mic night that was led by supportive peers in the FHS student leadership committee where I sold hundreds of personally baked homemade cupcakes, allocating a portion of my individual Girl Scout cookie sale proceeds kindly allowed by my fellow Girl Scouts, and a very generous solar inverter donation from Fayetteville Public Utilities (FPU).
In 2017, during a free period between classes, I rode a scissor-lift onto the roof and installed three 100-watt, 12 volt solar panels on the roof of FHS under the guidance of the FCS maintenance department and FPU to ensure electrical safety. Still functional, these panels continue saving FCS the cost roughly equivalent to that which powers the FHS digital marquee sign daily.
There is still space available for more panels, and it is my hope that future students or faculty will eventually add more, especially since the price has decreased quite a bit since 2017. Though there will eventually be diminishing returns on the energy produced by the panels, engineering students at FHS are able to see and learn about a solar circuit in person. With rural resources being limited, it is my opinion that this effect is the greatest of the project.
Special thanks to Fayetteville Public Utilities and their team for donating the electric inverter
Installing the electric current inverter and conduit
With the last of the cookie sale proceeds set aside for the project, I procured lights to brighten Fayetteville-Lincoln County Public Library's event sign and their respective Little Free Library.
Public Library Solar Light Day Photo
Public Library Solar Light Night Photo
Attaching a motion activated solar light behind FHS
Placing solar light by Little Free Library
Special thanks again to Fayetteville Public Utilities for donating a solar inverter and a team of experts to ensure my safety.
Special thanks as well to Mr. Bryant with the FCS maintenance department for all your time, tools, and expertise.
Lastly, thanks so much to the FHS 2017 Student Council for their support in organizing the Open Mic Night that funded most of the project.