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Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E) and Irving Middle School held a groundbreaking ceremony today in celebration of the school’s new, onsite solar panel installation funded by the electric company. Designed and implemented in collaboration with Irving Middle School’s Students for Solar club, this pilot project will power classrooms with clean, renewable energy, ultimately helping the school serve as a model for future solar programs at other schools in the company’s service area.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the solar panel project was held on Irving Middle School grounds on Thursday, January 5. Both past and present members of Students for Solar, a student group that advocates for solar energy, environmental conservation and increased STEM opportunities, and teacher sponsors were in attendance, as well as representatives from OG&E, Norman Public Schools and other community leaders.

“Supporting education and protecting the environment, through unique, innovative energy solutions are part of how OG&E energizes life,” said Jessica King, supervisor of customer programs at OG&E. “The solar project at Irving Middle School checks all these boxes. We are delighted to provide this installation to the school and can’t wait to see how the new technology further energizes education in Norman and beyond.”

Members of Students for Solar worked closely with OG&E personnel to brainstorm, research and design the new solar panel system.

“This solar installation has been an aspiration of our club for years now,” said Laura Vaughn, a science teacher at Irving Middle School and one of the Students for Solar teacher advisors. “I am so proud of all the students who worked to get this project funded and incredibly thankful to OG&E for making our dream a reality!”

The solar panel installation at Irving Middle School is part of an ongoing research and development project at OG&E. Through this pilot program, OG&E will provide solar technology to three pre-selected schools in its service area to assess how solar power can benefit schools. Additionally, each installation will include initiatives that enhance student learning in STEM subjects and educate youth on energy-saving benefits and techniques.

“Because of the new solar installation, our school will now be powered by clean energy, and all the money we save on energy costs will directly benefit our classrooms,” said Salem Kirk, a former Irving Middle School student and the founder of the Students for Solar club. “We are so grateful to OG&E for their donation and commitment to bettering education at our school and throughout the community!”

OG&E was the first electric company in the state to offer universal solar power to its customers, and it continues to lead the way when it comes to solar energy. Advocating for, designing and funding the solar panel installation at Irving Middle School is just one of many ways the company energizes sustainability and future generations across its service area. To learn more about OG&E’s renewable energy options and how you can implement solar power in your own home, visit oge.com/renewables.

OG&E, a subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp., provides our customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas with the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and homes with some of the nation's lowest electric rates. We are committed to generating and delivering electricity, protecting the environment, and providing excellent service to approximately 900,000 customers. Our employees live, work, and volunteer in the communities we serve. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.