GREENFIELD – Franklin County Tech School students received real-life experience installing solar panels on a Habitat for Humanity house in Greenfield last week.
Ten juniors enrolled in the electrical program at FCTS partnered with licensed electricians and installers from local company PV Squared to install roof-mounted solar panels on the home. FCTS students have previously done plumbing, wiring, and landscaping work for this house as well.
“This was a really cool opportunity to do this with PV Squared,” said FCTS electrical instructor Todd Weed. “They’re really strong allies of our program.”
PV Squared has partnered with Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity since 2010 and has completed eight projects in Franklin and Hampshire counties. Each of these projects have been funded through grants or donations of products and services by PV Squared to help homeowners meet their energy needs.
The company is on the school’s advisory committee and allows students to complete internships with the company. Weed says they have also made frequent donations to the school.
“Now, we’ve established this next-level relationship working hand-in-hand doing actual installations to give the kids experience,” Weed said.
This was the first time students got the experience to complete a roof installation. Each of the students is studying to become a master electrician, and Weed says that learning how to complete solar projects is important due to the “expanding trade.”
The tech school has two different house projects at the moment; in addition to the Greenfield house, they are also working on building a house for Habitat for Humanity in Erving.
“It was a great experience,” Weed said of the solar panel installation. “The kids were very invigorated by the opportunity.”