“Solar Panels already Saving Energy in Augusta County”

WHSV TV-3 Harrisonburg, VA, by Hannah Hall, March 6, 2019

This story from a local TV station came about while Erik was working in-house as chief marketing officer for Secure Futures Solar. Erik organized a press launch event with a variety of speakers including two students who had led a campaign to get solar on their schools, the school superintendent and elected officials along with a company representative.

The event immediately generated half a dozen stories in local and trade media and helped lead to ongoing coverage as the solar installation story progressed.

Here’s a sample from the story:

The panels are already saving energy for Fort Defiance High School, Clymore Elementary School, and Cassel Elementary School. Dr. Eric Bond, Augusta County superintendent, says the student involvement sets the project apart.

“I think that’s what makes our project in Augusta County so special, it was student led, to a certain degree,” Dr. Bond said. “They had an idea as student leaders to try and improve their individual school.”

Dr. Bond said it’s also a great learning opportunity for the students.

“And it does tie in directly to our curriculum, so I think it enhances that for our students, so that’s incredibly important for us, just the educational component.”

Right now, this is the largest array of solar panels in a Virginia public school system. The panels will provide 30 percent of the energy the school uses, and is expected to save the school system $500,000 over the next 20 years.