News Release No. 495

DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ANNOUNCES
FIRST KANSAS CITY AREA SCHOOL TO "GO SOLAR"

Volume 33-495

Contact: Larry Archer

(For immediate release)

573-751-3807

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. DEC. 6, 2005 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced today that Smith-Hale Middle School will be the first Kansas City-area school to join the department's Missouri Schools Going Solar program.

As a participant in the program, which is administered by the Department of Natural Resources in partnership with Kansas City Power and Light, Smith-Hale will receive a 1-kilowatt photovoltaic solar array on school grounds. The arrays are expected to generate a small amount of electricity and a large amount of student and community enthusiasm about energy alternatives.

The program also provides schools with curricular materials and training to help teachers incorporate lessons about energy resources, including energy efficiency and renewable energy, into classroom courses and activities.

"Schools are an excellent place to demonstrate renewable energy options to communities," said Anita Randolph, director of the Missouri Energy Center, the state's energy office. "Students will have the opportunity to learn about how energy efficiency and renewable energy, such as solar power, benefit our economy and environment."

Today's announcement brings the total of Missouri Schools Going Solar participants to 14. Other Missouri communities with participating schools include St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, Brookfield and Jefferson City.

The solar equipment is estimated to cost $10,000 per school, or $10 per watt. Funding for the education program will come from Missouri Schools Going Solar as well as the required $2,500 cash match that each school must provide. Additional information on the program is
available online at www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/renewables/solar-schools.htm or by contacting the department's Energy Center at 573-751-3443 or the department toll free at 800-361-4827.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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