On Saturday, Sept. 22, EMU students and community volunteers participated in the installation of solar arrays on University Commons and Roselawn. The installation was the culmination of the Student Solar Panel Project (SSPP) — a student led initiative to increase EMU’s solar array.
The installation had been long in the planning but the installation only began on Wednesday, September 19.
Student volunteers began removing ballast stones from the University Commons and Roselawn roofs to clear space for the solar panels. This work was “less glamorous than setting [the solar panels] up,” sophomore Reuben Peachey-Stoner said.
Installation began on Saturday. Students and other volunteers began installation at 8 am.
Secure Futures, a solar panel installation company based out of Staunton, Virginia, helped direct the work.
Volunteers worked in shifts throughout the day ending two hours ahead of schedule.
“We had more volunteers than we had work to do,” said Student Solar Panel Project member Andy King. Some volunteers worked on the ground assembling racks for the panels. Others on the roof carried panels from the lift to their designated position.
Saturday’s volunteers cultivated an atmosphere of excitement and passion. Mim Beck, SSPP member, noted the communal ambiance. “It was definitely a lot more fun on Saturday… more of a community event,” Beck said.
With the extra help, volunteers found time to converse and get to know each other better. A few volunteers even found time to dance.
The project began with conversation between EMU students and faculty. Eventually, students brought the idea to EMU administration.
After more planning and organization, administration agreed to help move the project along.
Greg Sachs, faculty liaison between students, faculty and contractors, noted the passion of each of the students behind the project. “I think it is significant [that] we were able to move forward with this in EMU’s current financial climate.”
Upon completion, some students felt bittersweet to see months of hard work come to an end. “There’s a weird feeling of it being over and done with,” King said.
Though the planning and installation is now complete, those involved hope that the project lives on through others.
Beck did not question the solar panels’ effects in the future. “It’s going to be a lasting impact,” Beck said.
King and Beck noted the large student interest, especially among freshmen.
The solar panels will serve their designated purpose, but perhaps they will also stand as a symbol of inspiration to current and future students.
It will be several weeks until the solar panels are fully functioning. Various contractors will be coming within the next weeks to finish off the more specialized work.
After that, the city of Harrisonburg will inspect the array to make sure it is ready to catch and convert some rays.
