LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i High School sophomore Dillon Ancheta was excited to learn that on Dec. 13, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi announced that the State Department of Education awarded a Power Purchase Agreement contract to install photovoltaic
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i High School sophomore Dillon Ancheta was excited to learn that on Dec. 13, Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi announced that the State Department of Education awarded a Power Purchase Agreement contract to install photovoltaic (PV) systems at 15 Kaua‘i schools.
Under the agreement, the installation of the PVs at the schools will be completed at no cost to the state.
During the 2010 Hawai‘i Secondary Student Conference, Dillon introduced a resolution that PV systems be installed in public schools to reduce electricity costs. Dillon’s resolution was adopted by the student conference and, as a result, parts of the resolution were included in House Bill 10 in the 2011 legislative session.
Although the bill did not move through the legislative session, Ancheta said “I was thrilledto hear the governor’s announcement,” according to a news release. “As a student I felt empowered that the resolution I proposed during the SSC and some of my ideas were included in House Bill 10 during the 2011 legislative session,” he said.
State Sen. Ronald D. Kouchi and state Rep. James K. Tokioka met with Dillon and fellow Kaua‘i students last year and encouraged them to share their forward-thinking idea with legislators.
“I am ecstatic for Dillon with this recent announcement by the governor and Superintendent Matayoshi,” said Kouchi said in the news release.
“The fact that the focus of Dillon’s resolution related to the renewable operation of state institutions will inspire other students to propose ideas to their lawmakers. This shows that we should be listening to our vibrant youth and validates their belief that their voices can make a difference in shaping the future of Hawaii into what they want it to be,” Kouchi said.
The PV installation at the schools will begin this month and is expected to be completed by 2014. The Department of Education will save an estimated $30 million over the life of the project, taking into account a projected 3 percent yearly increase in commercial electricity rates, according to the news release.
