On October 1, Stroud Water Research Center announced it has received a $141,000 sustainability grant from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club for a new 55-kilowatt rooftop solar array system.

The solar array is expected to offset 23% of the Stroud Center's energy needs, avoiding nearly 80,000 pounds of CO2 each year.

Overall, the lifetime energy savings are expected to exceed $125,000, which will empower the organization to expand free educational programming for 5,675 additional low-income students from Pennsylvania public schools over the lifetime of the solar array.

More than 15 million people annually are directly impacted by the Stroud Center's freshwater research, environmental education, and watershed restoration.

Five-thousand students from Pennsylvania participate in programming, and 60% come from Title I schools with federally funded educational assistance.

Additionally, the Stroud Center's LEED-Platinum building serves as an important teaching tool for students to learn the important steps taken to achieve LEED-Platinum status and what they can do in their own homes to minimize their impact.

"We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and $141,000 sustainability grant from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club," said David Arscott, Ph.D., executive director, president, and research scientist at the Stroud Center. "The energy savings from the solar array will empower us to continually integrate sustainability into our operations every day."

"We're thrilled to join forces with Stroud Water Research Center to reduce their environmental footprint and, at the same time, expand their educational outreach programs," said Andrea Ortega-Toledano, senior director of sustainability, Green Mountain Energy. "We know empowering community with the principles of sustainability ensures future generations remain committed to nurturing our planet."

Green Mountain Energy's mission is to inspire hope and motivate action through the use of clean energy, and to advance sustainable communities through Sun Club.

Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $14 million for 164 projects across Texas and the Northeast.

Green Mountain Energy invites its customers and employees to contribute and help support more projects that promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship.

Click Here for complete announcement.

For more information on programs, initiatives and special events, visit the Stroud Water Research Center website, Click Here to subscribe to UpStream.  Click Here to subscribe to Stroud’s Educator newsletter.  Click Here to become a Friend Of Stroud Research,  Like them on Facebook, Follow on Twitter and visit their YouTube Channel.

The Chester County-based Stroud Center seeks to advance knowledge and stewardship of freshwater systems through global research, education, and watershed restoration.

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[Posted: October 1, 2024]

10/7/2024