The first solar system will be installed at Mayo High School
We aim to start installing a 6 KW solar system at Mayo this October! We have raised over $30,000 in hard cash and $8,000 in donated labor from IBEW in less than four months. The Olmsted County Solar Initiative has become a symbol of what our generation can accomplish. The array will consist of 26 Sharp 224-watt modules. The panels will be mounted on Unirac rails fastened to either a series of L-feet or a customized bracket system. A SunnyBoy 6000-watt (208V) inverter along with both AC and DC disconnects placed inside the control room located directly behind the array. A Sunny WebBox and Com Card will be installed to track the panels live output (so you will be able to come to our site, and see how much clean energy the system you helped pay for is producing).
Watch how solar panels are made from the discovery channel:
Paying for Panels
Covering the $30,000 cost as a single high school would be next to impossible. We as a community have to work together to front the large initial cost. The $75,000 grant awarded by the American Public Power Association will help tremendously at sustaining the project for at least three more years.
Panel Installers
Tom Thompson of Pine Island solar will be installing the panels between door 6 and door 1 at Mayo High School. The rebate forms have been approved by the Department of Energy and we expect to have the panels creating clean, renewable energy before November.
Paying for Panels 
Panel Installers 
