4/21/09  The Oxford Eagle
Melanie Addington
Staff Writer

When passing City Hall this week, you might notice a trailer parked out front. The trailer is on display during Green Week courtesy of the Oxford Electric Department to show people the way to use solar energy.

This power option has been growing steadily in usage since the 1970s across the country but still has yet to find common use in homes and businesses, mostly due to the high cost of installing and running the components.

“The purpose (of the trailer) is to both provide a working demo of what can be done with solar and to generate interest in solar energy,” Oxford Electric Department Superintendent Lynn Robbins said.

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We are pleased to announce a new scholarship program for 3 teachers  to attend Solar Energy International's Teacher's Training Program in Carbondale, CO in June 2009. The winner's of this year's scholarship program are Mrs. Jennifer Martin and Mr. John Groat of Northwest Rankin Middle School in Flowood, MS and Brandee Livingstonof Florence Middle School. This scholarship is funded by Mississippi Solar.

Mississippi Solar has donated a 2.8 kW grid-tie solar array to Northwest Rankin Middle School . The system is the 1st grid-tie system installed in the Mississippi public school system under the "Schools on Solar" educational program. Installation was donated jointly by Mississippi Solar, Signature Homescape & Electrical Solutions.

Data from this pilot program will be recorded to track energy production as compared to classroom usage. Future systems will be sized to satisfy classroom usage.