Sequim High School Solar Energy

The system was installed in the fall of 2003 at the Sequim High School near the greenhouse, as part of the Bonneville Power Administration Solar Schools program. The Solar Schools project is a great opportunity for the Clallam County PUD to team up with the Sequim School District. It was a concerted effort that involved the PUD's operations department, utility service department, school staff, and local volunteers. The solar unit started producing on January 16, 2004; the data phone line was connected April 13, 2004. See data on energy produced from the solar panel.

The PUD will be developing curriculum, and working with the Sequim School District to introduce students to alternative energy.

Local volunteers were Andy Cochrane, Power Trip Energy, Rob Knapp, Marmot Electric, Noel Van Geisen, KC Contracting, and Terry Whidden, Alternative Technology Design.

Thanks to Sequim School District employees Grant Darby, Supervisor, Maintenance & Operations Bob Schmidt, District Energy Manager, Floyd Hope, Building Services Technician.

The steel pole and electrical conduit was installed by Clallam PUD Lineman Terry Lee, Joe Greenstreet, and Rex Habner.

The system is net metered off setting the energy used at the school greenhouse.

Equipment used in the system includes a XANTRX 1500 Suntie Inverter, (8) 70 watt, 12 volt, monocrystaline BP solar modules. Because the service to the greenhouse is 277 volt, a buck-boost transformer was used to convert the 240 volt output of the inverter to 277 volt.

The system is mounted on a pole that is 15 feet above the ground.