Students and faculty at Marquette Alternative High School participate in a Q-and-A about solar power systems after the school's new system was installed Friday. (Journal photo by Antonio Anderson)

MARQUETTE — Friday saw the installation and final touches to the four year solar power project at Marquette Alternative High School. Students, faculty and more contributors have been hard at work getting the project off the ground with grant writing and fundraising which have culminated in Marquette Alternative’s first photovoltaic project.

“Any excess power generated will be sent back into the grid and the power company will be paid for and given to the school,” said senior project manager AJ Jensen. “The solar system isn’t designed to be a power plant but when the school isn’t using much power it can earn them some money.”

The seed funds came from 2 percent funding request grants from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and the Sault Ste Marie Tribe of Chippewa.

“Without the support of these two tribal communities, this project would not have had the initial funds needed to apply for the State matching grant that fully funded the project,” said Marquette Alternative High School teacher Brian Prill.

The new solar system will generate about a third of the school’s power. The initiative is a part of the school’s incorporation of the United Nations sustainable development goals and a large step to move the school to more sustainable practices.

“I’ve been saying to people that we can expand this system pretty easily,” said Prill. “If we get more funds we can keep adding to the system.”

Prill’s construction and work readiness course did a site walk through of the system with Jensen, even having a Q-and-A with the senior project manager to better understand how the system works and even how they can get involved in that job field.

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.