By Mark Olalde | The Arizona Republic
A new study published this month shows rapid growth of solar energy being harvested in K-12 schools across the nation, with Arizona near the front of the pack.
The Solar Foundation worked with the Solar Energy Industries Association to produce Brighter Future: A Study on Solar in U.S. Schools, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Sierra Club.
Arizona, the sunniest state in the nation, ranks third for overall photovoltaic capacity in K-12 schools. Currently 226 Arizona schools have solar systems in place that can generate a combined 66,288 kilowatts of electricity annually. The report estimates that level of output is worth more than $9 million in lowered electricity bills.
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