SECU members partner with NC GreenPower for Solar Schools Project
RALEIGH, NC (August 19, 2015) — State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) members via the SECU Foundation are once again teaming up with NC GreenPower to help expand the development of renewable energy sources through a pilot program geared to benefit North Carolina public schools – the Solar Schools project. Over the next two years, SECU Foundation will provide a total investment of up to $140,000, awarding a $10,000 matching challenge grant to 14 K-12 public schools that meet NC GreenPower’s program requirements for the installation of a pole-mounted solar PV system on school campuses. The Foundation’s matching challenge grant will help qualify each school for a 5 kW solar array system, which will offer an educational tool in the classroom, as well as an energy impact that will likely produce enough renewable energy to power a school’s main office. The impact saves an estimated 6,570 kilowatt hours with a potential cost savings of $657 annually.
“We greatly value the support received over the last eight years from SECU members for NC GreenPower’s renewable energy program and we are excited to transition the program to help schools across the state, especially those who have great need for educational tools and energy savings,” said Vicky McCann, Vice President of NC GreenPower. “With SECU Foundation’s assistance, we can once again leverage our partnership to better our state, not only by improving our environment, but by helping those schools who need it most.”
Under the partnership agreement, NC GreenPower will oversee all aspects of the Solar Schools pilot project, including participant applications, program criteria and school selection, cost proposals, training and educational materials. Applicants who have the greatest need, such as public schools in economically depressed counties are preferred candidates for the Solar Schools project. Four schools have already been selected for the 2015-2016 school year and an additional ten schools will be selected for 2016-2017.
“We are excited to extend our support for NC GreenPower’s Solar Schools project,” commented McKinley Wooten, Jr., Chairman of SECU Foundation’s Board of Directors. “Each year since 2007, our ‘GreenPower’ energy program partnership has funded approximately 2 million kilowatt hours of green-sourced energy as a replacement for fossil fuel-based energy – 1 kilowatt hour of green energy annually for each of our 2 million SECU members! Helping to integrate solar power in our schools as an alternative energy source is a worthy effort toward expanding renewable green power sources and providing financial benefits to challenged schools. We look forward to hearing positive results from the pilot program!”
About SECU
A not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, SECU has been providing employees of the state of North Carolina and their families with consumer financial services for nearly 82 years. The Credit Union also offers a diversified line of financial advisory services including retirement and education planning, tax preparation, insurance, trust and estate planning services, and investments through its partners and affiliated entities. SECU serves over 2.4 million members through 266 branch offices, nearly 1,100 ATMs, 24/7 Member Services via phone and a website, www.ncsecu.org.
