“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Ghandi
Jason Lee Middle School Solar Project 2020
Empowering youth to make positive, impactful change in our community and the world!
Give the Gift of Solar for the Holidays
Give a Gift by Giving instead of presents or flowers this year, honor someone special with a donation to the Watts Up! Jason Lee Solar 2020 Project.
Project Facts
Empowering youth to make positive, impactful change in our community and the world!
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Our solar project will be a 99.9kW solar array installed on the roof top of the athletics/electives addition to the building (see photo) at a cost of $198,000.00.
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This solar project will be the first solar installation in the Tacoma Public School District and serve as a model for future innovative technology projects in the district and beyond.
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This array will save the school between $10,000 to $14,000 per year which would be $250,000 to $350,000 over a 25 year period and their life would be longer. If arrays were placed on 10 schools it would save the district between $2.5 and $3.5 million dollars over 25 years.
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Schools are a perfect location for solar installations because they generally have large unobstructed roof tops, produce energy during the day when the bulk of use occurs, and provide a living learning laboratory for the students.
Project History
This project is the culmination of work done by Jason Lee students in Mrs. Hall’s science classes. As part of our study of renewable energy sources, students began researching the feasibility of a solar installation on the school.
In February 2019, Gwendolyn Newport, Sammy Firkins, and Annie Son presented their solar proposal for Jason Lee at the Governor’s STEM Education Innovation Alliance meeting at the Washington State Capitol sharing their project with Governor Inslee, committee members, and school participants. Their presentation received significant attention from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) educators and professionals, some who immediately contacted Tacoma Public School board members and administrators in support of the project.
Gwen, Sammy and Annie presented our proposal to the school board and gained their approval. We committed to raising the money for the project through grants and fundraising. Our Watts Up! Fundraiser will help us raise the $198,000.00 necessary for making the FIRST SOLAR INSTALLATION IN TACOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS a reality! Our goal is to install the solar array in July 2020.
We have been awarded a $50,000 grant towards the project from the Evergreen Options Program with Tacoma Public Utilities.
We have also been awarded a $45,000 grant from Bonneville Environmental Foundation, $30,000 towards infrastructure and $15,000 in kind for educational training and supplies for our Living Laboratory. Additionally, we have received a $25,000 grant from Pierce Conservation District Green Partnership.
Thank you for supporting Clean Energy and a more sustainable future!
Project Team
Teacher Leader: | Kathy Hall khall@tacoma.k12.wa.us |
Student Ambassadors: | Gwendolyn Newport, Sammy Firkins, and Annie Son |
Jason Lee Principal: | Christine Brandt |
TPS Executive Director of Planning and Construction: | Morris Aldridge |
TPS Director of Facilities: | Thomas Chalk |
TPS Project Manager: | Paul Harris |
TPS Grants Manager: | Cortney Leach |
TPS Director of Public Information: | Dan Voelpel |
Solar Consultants: | Sun’s Eye Solar, Dan Hulse |
Make a donation to get solar panels on Jason Lee Middle School!
Choose your donation amount below, or enter in your own custom amount.
All major credit cards accepted through secure transaction using PayPal.
Pick a Donation Level
360 Watt
Full Panel
$720
180 Watt
50% Panel
$360
90 Watt
25% Panel
$180
45 Watt
12.5% Panel
$90
23 Watt
6.3% Panel
$45
10 Watt
2.7% Panel
$20
Custom Donation
Project Status
198000
112171
Events
Let’s Eat Out! WATTS UP Old Spaghetti Factory Takeover
Place your online pickup or delivery order from The Old Spaghetti Factory at OSF.com using the code:
WATTSUP
to help support Jason Lee Middle School and the WATTSUP Solar Panel Project
Order online: April 27th – 29th, 2021
Use the code at checkout and we will donate 10% of your total purchase (pre-tax) to help support Jason Lee Middle School.