MICHIGAN CITY – Michigan City Area Schools, in partnership with Performance Services Inc., was presented a 2018 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in the Renewable Energy category.
The award was presented Sept. 19 by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management during the 21st annual Pollution Prevention Conference and Trade Show in Indianapolis.
The MCAS Solar and LED project, which was completed in December 2017, is the largest for any school district in Indiana and the Midwest to date, according to Michigan City school officials. It features ground-mount photovoltaic arrays and LED lighting upgrades at seven school sites.
School officials said the solar arrays provide 2.83 megawatts of clean, renewable energy and in combination with the LED lighting upgrades, offset approximately 52 percent of combined electricity usage at the Michigan City school locations with expected net energy savings of $23 million over 30 years.
The project was made possible through a partnership with Performance Services of Indianapolis, which specializes in green energy solutions.
“We are thrilled to be recognized with the governor’s award,” said Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, Michigan City schools’ superintendent. “This project has helped us move toward ‘greener’ and more efficient buildings, and it is being financed through energy savings at no cost to taxpayers. This will benefit Michigan City Area Schools and our community for years to come.”
Michigan City schools received a Governor’s Award in 2013 for Krueger Middle School’s environmental science program and in 2017 for the Michigan City High School Wolves Environmental Restoration Team’s Hansen Park project in partnership with the city of Michigan City.
