Solar States Blog

The Amish way of life has learned to live side by side with secular residents in Lancaster County for years, despite differences in the way the two cultures choose to live. But while Lancaster’s newest proposed addition will involve electricity, it shouldn’t ruffle too many Mennonite beards as this improvement is both respectful to the environment and completely silent.

Suburban Philadelphia’s Community Energy unveiled plans this week to build a $20 million solar array on 40 acres of farmland in East Drumore Township, Lancaster County. The solar farm would generate enough electricity to power 900 homes using nothing but the sun.

Amish ingenuity to use natural resources to create energy is at the heart of this simple innovation. And with the productivity of solar panels increasing everyday, it is likely 900 homes is a conservative estimate over the 25-year lifespan of the array.

The success of this plant will create construction jobs and help diversify the state’s coal-heavy energy portfolio. Keep it here for updates on this and other projects around the state.

On today’s This Week In Duh, we ring our own bell a little bit; toot our own horn; scratch our own back, if you will. This partnership we have created is so brilliant, we just have to shout about it. I mean, who would have thought that an environmental education center would partner with a solar environmental education and install company? Please, hold your applause until the end.

Ok, so maybe our networking isn’t totally brilliant, but this partnership may be. For our part, we are just happy these guys would work with us. The Schuylkill Center has been around nearly 25 years, educating the educators, the nature buffs and the regular city dwellers here in Philadelphia on the wonders of nature, and how to keep it as wondrous as possible. As one of the oldest environmental education centers in the country, we feel their experience and dedication is the best foothold for our solar education programs.

This month, Solar States helps lead a two-day teacher workshop on solar energy. Participants will work with industry experts, learning about the grant and incentive programs that will bring solar technology to the forefront of Pennsylvania’s energy portfolio. Teachers attending the program will receive lesson plans that use solar energy in science, math, social studies and civics classes. Participants also receive a $50 stipend, 11 ACT 48 credit hours, a free pyranometer or multimeter, and small PV cells to use in the classroom.

Some things were just made to be together: peanut butter and jelly, cookies and milk, a 130-watt solar panel and a 250-watt, grid-tied inverter. If you don’t get that joke and you would like to, check out more information here. If you have some duh-inducing technology news of your own, e-mail me at john@solar-states.com.