Students in Therese Regan’s ecology class at Elwood-John H. Glenn High School welcomed two special visitors to their class on Nov. 20. Hauppauge-based Sunrise Power Solutions Director of Business Development Stephen Foley, and Sean Logan, a project manager of Performance Infrastructure from Johnson Controls Inc. spoke to students about installing solar panels at each of the district’s schools.

As part of their section on climate change, the students have been discussing climate change solutions, leading them to ask many questions in terms of how the solar panels will be installed, the panels’ durability, as well as projected energy production. 

Some students even inquired about getting involved in a solar industry career. In fact, Mr. Logan shared that his passion for greenhouse technology sparked in high school and continued through college with a degree in physics.

The solar panels to be installed at each of the schools are projected to supply 80% of the district’s future energy needs, while emitting virtually no greenhouse gases in the process.  The energy generation will avoid the use of non-renewable fuels which are used to generate most of the electricity on Long Island and will save the district money over the long term.