Nebraskans for Solar's Board of Directors
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At our December meeting, we approved the following board officers and members for 2021:
Leo Arens, President
Brenda Moscovits, Co-President Elect
Louis Lester, Co-President Elect, Nonprofits' Energy Efficiency/Load Management Projects Coordinator
Ken Deffenbacher, Past President, Treasurer
Helen Deffenbacher, NFS Executive Director, Nebraska Solar Schools Facilitator
Donnis Arens, Nebraska Solar Schools Program volunteer
Logan Smith, Creighton University student representative
Max Markuson DiPrince, Creighton University student representative
Syed Ali, Nebraska Solar Schools Program volunteer
Volunteer Facebook Editor: David Corbin, former Nebraskans for Solar Board of Directors member
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No More Empty Pots Update
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No More Empty Pots CEO Nancy Williams and Nebraskans for Solar representatives will meet on February 6th to revise and reissue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the installation of a PV system at NMEP’s Food Hub. We will incorporate lessons learned from our initial RFP released on September 4, 2020.
This Green Watts for Good project is funded by contributions to our organizations’ separate 2020 Omaha Gives campaigns. When completed, the money No More Empty Pots will save on electric bills will provide meals to a great number of people over many years. We will keep you updated on the RFP release, project proposal selection, and its progress.
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The Center for People in Need
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Representatives from Nebraskans for Solar and the Center for People in Need in Lincoln: Executive Director Chris Funk and Facilities Manager Ken Cooper, met virtually in 2020, focusing on ways in which the Center can save energy and money over the long term through efficiency measures and energy load management. This is the Center’s top priority. We have also discussed the possibility of collaborating on a future solar energy project. |
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Wanted: Renewable Energy Experts
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We seek Nebraska experts from solar energy businesses, local utilities and other agencies to serve as mentors to K-12 schools that are using or have used the NEED Solar Energy Kits.
Volunteer work might include, for example: providing a virtual presentation or workshop based on a lesson plan or project from the kits; assisting students with an after-school or science-fair project via Zoom; collaborating with teachers and students on putting together a virtual tour of a local community solar farm or another renewable energy project.
If you would like to volunteer, please send an email to Nebraska Solar Schools Facilitator Helen Deffenbacher at nebraskansforsolar@gmail.com
Photo: Duchesne Academy’s 10-kilowatt PV system. See “Solar Examples” on Nebraskans for Solar's website for details.
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Two New Projects For 2021 |
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In addition to continuing to work with No More Empty Pots CEO Nancy Williams to complete our solar project at the Food Hub, Nebraskans for Solar seeks to install an additional PV system at a food bank or homeless shelter during 2021, preferably in a community that has not yet developed a Green Watts for Good project. More will be posted about this goal in future newsletters. Photo: Heartland Hope Mission’s PV system. |
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Nebraska Solar Schools Scholarships Program |
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Nebraskans for Solar has initiated a “Solar Education & Training Scholarships Program” for graduating seniors, focusing primarily on high schools that are using the NEED Solar Energy Kit for grades 9 through 12: Exploring Photovoltaics. These schools include, in alphabetical order:
Ainsworth High School, Archbishop Bergan Catholic High School in Fremont, Bayard Public Schools, Bellevue East High School, Bellevue West High School, Bloomfield Community Schools, Bryan High School, Burke High School, Chadron High School, Conestoga High School, Duchesne Academy, Fremont High School, Gothenburg High School, Gretna High School, Guardian Angels Central Catholic High School in West Point, Hastings Senior High School, Lincoln North Star High School, Marian High School, Northwest High Magnet School, Omaha North High Magnet School, Pawnee City High School, Pierce High School.
If you are a teacher, principal or superintendent at a Nebraska K-12 school and would like to learn more about our NEED Solar Energy Kits project or request a kit for your school, click a link:
This STEM education project is funded by grants provided by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and the Facebook Foundation.
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Take care of yourselves, loved ones and neighbors, and if you are able to, please contribute to your local food bank and homeless shelter.
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Thank you for all you are doing to advance renewable energy in our state!
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