PUHI — Island School broke ground on a solar project Monday. When completed, it should take care of its daytime power needs. “Humans have long seen the sun as a source of heat and light and energy and have sought
PUHI — Island School broke ground on a solar project Monday. When completed, it should take care of its daytime power needs.
“Humans have long seen the sun as a source of heat and light and energy and have sought to find ways to use its enormous power,” said Robert Springer, Island School’s principal. “Today, we break ground in anticipation of realizing this hope, that the sun’s energy can be harnessed for our benefit.”
When completed, the solar project will have more than 1,200 solar panels sitting on an acre of land, generating enough energy to meet the daytime needs of the entire campus with some surplus, Springer said.
Kurt Bosshard, a parent of an Island School graduate and owner of Kapa‘a Solar, agreed to fund and own the solar project.
REC Solar will build the structure and install the panels.
In outlining the history of the project, which has spanned more than a year, Springer referred to two myths, one Greek and one Hawaiian.
Prometheus, from Greek mythology, stole back the sun’s energy from Zeus, a god, who in a rage had taken fire from humans.
The legend states, in defiance of Zeus, Prometheus lit a torch from the sun and brought fire back to man, the symbolic act ushering humans into an age of creativity and technology, eventually bringing us to our modern world and solar power, Springer said.
In reference to Hawaiian mythology, Springer said Maui had listened to his mother’s complaint about the shortness of days and how it did not allow her enough time to dry her clothes.
Maui climbed to the top of Haleakala, and as the sun rose, lassoed its rays.
The sun pleaded to be let go and agreed to make the days longer in summer, although remaining shorter during the winter.
“Getting to this point has taken us well over a year and the combined efforts of many hands,” Springer said. “Rick Fogel, a parent of two Island School graduates, introduced the idea of solar power in April 2011 to the Buildings and Grounds Committee of the school’s Board of Directors.”
After considering several proposals, Springer said the Board unanimously approved of the Bosshard partnership.
“We are deeply grateful to Mr. Bosshard for his largeness and for following through on the many details needed to get this project underway,” Springer said. “The purpose of this groundbreaking is to recognize the contributions of many individuals, to pledge our support for the project’s satisfactory completion, and to look forward with wonder and appreciation to the benefits it will provide.”
Players involved in getting to the groundbreaking include the Island School Board of Directors, led by president Kathy Richardson; the Committee on Buildings and Grounds, led by Wade Lord; the county of Kaua‘i; Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative; REC Solar, represented by Jeff Delaney and Drew Bradley; Kaua‘i Nursery and Landscaping, headed by Leland Nishek, who cleared the acre of land where the project will sit; Esaki Surveying; and Akinaka & Associates, engineers for the project.
Of note, Springer said Mike Goto, the school’s business manager, was the go-to person — the lynchpin. “This is an incredible day of enormous import for Island School as we continue to build a campus, which serves our students and their families, and beyond this, which is dedicated to providing benefits to the larger community of Kaua‘i of which we are a part of,” Springer said.
