RPS Superintendent Recaps Solar Celebration at Ridgefield High School

Last Saturday, RPS celebrated its new solar carport at RHS with the public at a fun and informational event, recognizing local green initiatives. Superintendent Dr. Susie Da Silva credited RPS Finance Director Jill Browne, town representatives Dwayne Escola and Vincent Giordano, Board of Education member Sean McEvoy, and the Energy Task Force with their commitment to getting the Solar Canopy built and paid for with investor funding. Members of the Board of Education and Board of Selectpersons turned out to recognize the importance of this town/school partnership.

When the new solar panels at RHS go live in the next few weeks, RPS will become the Connecticut school district with the most solar power per capita. One third of all electricity used by RPS is now produced by solar and is 100% emission free—an initiative good for the budget and the earth.

RHS students from the Environmental Club ran a contest for residents to award the person with the lowest electric bill. Many homeowners with solar panels showed off their Eversource bill of zero dollars or less; believe it or not, the person with the lowest bill got back over $750 from Eversource last month! Win Win for them!

Residents pulled up to Saturday’s in their EV vehicles to show off the variety of models of emission-free rides available. RPS transportation coordinator Billy Gramajo attended with First Student Bus Service and Thomas Bus Company to showcase a new all-electric school bus prototype.

Tiffany Carlson, Town Recycling Coordinator and unofficial Compost Queen, gave information about responsible trash disposal and ways all of us can reduce, reuse, and recycle. Her EV vehicle was a Ford pick-up truck.

The Noreen Mala Quartet (NMQ) made it a party with their carbon-free tunes. The town currently has solar panels at Barlow Mountain, Farmingville, Ridgebury, Scotland, Scotts Ridge, East Ridge, and RHS, with an additional solar system approved at Barlow Mountain and plans to explore options for Veterans Park and other school parking lots.