Progress Energy, Carolina Hurricanes launch SolarSchools partnership

RALEIGH (April 14, 2009) – Some bright ideas will be taking shape in schools across the Carolinas this year, thanks to the Progress Energy SolarSchools program – a partnership between Progress Energy Carolinas and the Carolina Hurricanes Kids ’N Community Foundation.

The new hands-on educational program for middle school students supports innovative ways to use and conserve energy and encourages students to develop innovative energy solutions. Middle schools served by Progress Energy Carolinas are eligible to participate in the program.

“Progress Energy SolarSchools will provide teachers and students across the state a personal and powerful tool to help them learn about the practical applications of solar energy,” said Lloyd Yates, president and CEO of Progress Energy Carolinas. “We are proud to partner with the Carolina Hurricanes in providing this learning opportunity for our schools.”

Funding for Progress Energy SolarSchools 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 Carolina Hurricanes and the Kids ’N Community Foundation are very excited about the opportunity to partner with Progress Energy's SolarSchools program,” said Doug Warf, executive director of the Kids ’N Community Foundation. “SolarSchools is a well-developed interactive program that will allow the students of today to be better educated on how to manage their personal energy use, and possibly help solve the energy challenges of tomorrow.”

In addition to SolarSchools, Progress Energy has also launched Energy Efficiency World, an online educational resource for teachers, parents and students that provides information and activities on renewable energy and energy efficiency. The site builds on many of the concepts being explored in the SolarSchools program.

Progress Energy SolarSchools participants will submit a solar assessment of their school’s campus and complete an energy project to be judged in regional competitions. Students from five winning schools will receive a permanent 2-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) demonstration system, valued at more than $20,000, to be installed at their school.

The systems will be installed by Argand Solar, a North Carolina-based renewable energy company that recently completed installation of an educational solar PV display for Progress Energy’s Harris Energy and Environmental Center near New Hill in western Wake County. The display gives students and visitors hands-on exposure to solar energy technology in a real-world application.

Progress Energy SolarSchools will provide online information about each of the installed systems as part of the project. Students and the public can monitor the electricity output of each project and learn more about the capabilities of solar PV technologies.

Additional information on SolarSchools is available at www.progress-energy.com/pecsolarschools. Energy Efficiency World is available at www.progress-energy.com/shared/eew.