The Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS) is installing seven solar projects in the district that will collectively provide 4.6 MW of power. CTECS will save nearly $6 million in energy costs over the life of the systems.
From left to right: CTECS Executive Director Dr. Alice Pritchard; State Rep. Jason Doucette; Dennis Schain, Manchester City Council; State Rep. Geoff Luxenberg; DAS Commissioner Michelle Gilman; Verogy CEO Will Herchel; Bryan Garcia, president and CEO of Connecticut Green Bank; David Batch, principal of Howell Cheney Technical High School
Verogy installs the projects, with support from the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) and Connecticut Green Bank. The projects will also include a workforce development component, providing both classroom and on-site learning opportunities to students at each school where projects are implemented.
The seven projects are as follows:
- Howell Cheney Technical High School (Manchester) – 756.8 kW carport system
- WF Kaynor Technical High School (Waterbury) – 448.8 kW roof system
- AI Prince Technical High School (Hartford) – 170.5 kW roof system
- Eli Whitney Technical High School (Hamden) – 756.8 kW roof and carport systems
- Emmett O’Brien Technical High School (Ansonia) – 897.6 kW roof and carport systems
- Henry Abbott Technical High School (Danbury) – 616 kW carport system
- H.H. Ellis Technical High School (Danielson) – 959.2 kW roof and carport system
“This solar project represents so much more than an investment in clean energy; it is also an investment in our students by introducing them to technologies that will shape the future of their industry,” said CTECS Director Dr. Alice Pritchard at the project launch at Howell Cheney Technical High School. “At the same time, the energy savings generated by these systems allow us to redirect operating funds to other programmatic areas. It is a model for how collaborative projects can advance our educational mission while supporting Connecticut’s energy goals.”
“As a graduate of Wilcox Tech’s Electrical Program, I know how valuable hands-on engineering education can be,” said Torre Babich, project manager at Verogy and Wolcott native. “I started my journey in electrical engineering here in Connecticut, earned my degree and completed 2,000 hours of classroom training. Now that I have supported the launch of the technical phase of the CTECS solar projects, it is incredibly rewarding to see them moving forward, bringing clean energy to schools while providing students with the same kind of hands-on experience that launched my own career.”
News item from Connecticut Green Bank
