RALEIGH, N.C. (Dec. 17, 2009) – Progress Energy announced today the winners of its SunSense schools program that will each receive a 2-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) demonstration system, valued at more than $20,000. Chosen from 12 finalists, the schools will receive the solar panels in the coming months as part of a partnership between Progress Energy Carolinas and the Carolina Hurricanes Kids ’N Community Foundation. The Progress Energy SunSense schools program winners are Daniels Middle School in Raleigh, N.C., Jordan-Matthews High School in Siler City, N.C., Owen Middle School in Swannanoa, N.C., South Brunswick High School in Southport, N.C., and South Florence High School in Florence, S.C. The SunSense schools program is a hands-on educational program for middle school and high school students that encourages them to develop innovative energy solutions. The solar demonstration array will be connected to the school’s electrical system and to Internet monitoring equipment, so students can view the panels' real-time electricity production. Educational materials will also be provided to teachers to help integrate renewable energy learning opportunities into the classroom. "We are proud to partner with the Carolina Hurricanes to provide these unique, powerful tools for learning about the practical applications of solar energy," said Lloyd Yates, president and chief executive officer of Progress Energy Carolinas. "The enthusiasm for energy education from teachers and students across the region is encouraging for the future of alternative energy and we thank everyone for participating in the program." Funding for the program was provided through grants from the Progress Energy Foundation and the Carolina Hurricanes Kids ’N Community Foundation, which is affiliated with the National Hockey League team. The systems will be installed by Argand Solar, a North Carolina-based renewable energy company. "The Carolina Hurricanes and the Kids 'N Community Foundation understand the importance of advancements in renewable energy resources and we were excited to partner with Progress Energy on the SunSense schools program," said Doug Warf, executive director of the Kids 'N Community Foundation. "Our initial excitement was definitely warranted as we were very overly impressed by all of schools who applied." The finalists were chosen from nearly 30 schools that applied to be a part of the program. Finalist schools participated in a professional solar site evaluation and completed an energy project that was judged in regional competitions in December. Additional information on the Progress Energy SunSense schools program is available at www.progress-energy.com/sunsense.
About the Carolina Hurricanes Kids ‘N Community Foundation
The Carolina Hurricanes Kids ‘N Community Foundation provides much needed funding to children’s charities and education programs throughout North Carolina. The Foundation has funded scholarship programs, youth hockey, educational and literacy efforts, children’s health programs, the arts and other children’s related initiatives. Annually, the Foundation provides cash and in-kind contributions of more than $1 million to charitable and educational programs in North Carolina. Every member of the Hurricanes organization is actively involved in community activities and the Hurricanes take great pride in the ability to have a positive impact in our state. About Progress Energy Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with more than 22,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve approximately 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company has earned the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence, and was the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for customer service. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008. Visit the company’s Web site at www.progress-energy.com. ### |
