Gallup High opens solar setup

The installation of a state-of-the art solar electric project at Gallup High School was cause for celebration Feb. 24.

"We're really looking at alternative energy sources," said Bruce Tempest, president of the Gallup-McKinley County Schools Board of Education.

Besides the potential savings in fuel costs, the project is an opportunity to teach students at the high school and at the University of New Mexico-Gallup about alternative energy systems, Tempest said.

One of only 15 districts statewide to receive an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant, GMCS collaborated with the state of New Mexico and Gallup Solar, a local nonprofit advocacy group, to do the project.

The 50-kilowatt photovoltaic system was constructed by Sacred Power Corp., a Native-owned company based in Albuquerque, using technology developed by Emcore Corp., which manufactures solar power equipment at its Albuquerque plant.

Michael Yates, Emcore business development manager, said the Gallup project would offset a portion of the high school's energy usage as well as being an educational tool.

Emcore makes solar equipment for use in satellites, and Yates said the Gallup project employs concentrated photovoltaics, a more advanced technology than that found in regular silicon-solar panels. The Emcore photovoltaics use a lens to concentrate the sun over a 1,000 times on top of a one-square-centimeter solar cell.

"The solar cell we use is called a triple-junction solar cell," he explained. "It's actually three semiconductors laying on top of each other. These solar cells were originally designed for space applications."

The solar panel modules use a tracking system to follow the sun throughout the day. Each panel has several boxes with magnifying lenses. At the bottom of each box is a solar cell concentrating light on a smaller solar cell.

"We only use a one-thousandth of the semiconductor material needed to make the same power as silicon," Yates said.

Leonard Haskie, GMCS assistant superintendent of support services and a former Navajo Nation Council delegate, said he is anxious to see if solar energy can meet the energy needs of the 425,000 square-foot school.

"Utility bills at the high school are extremely high and if it works over a period of time, we would encourage other schools to consider panels," Haskie said. "We have 35 schools in the district. This is one of the biggest schools."

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., a longtime advocate of renewable energy development, sent his field representative Cal Curley to last week's unveiling.

"This project was made possible by an innovative partnership between this community, Gallup Solar, Sacred Power Corporation and the federal government through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act," Udall said in a prepared statement. "This is just the type of work the Recovery Act was designed to do - support projects that create jobs and invest in our communities."

"New Mexico, the Navajo Nation and Indian Country as a whole are blessed by tremendous gifts of renewable energy resources - including wind, solar, geothermal and biomass resources," Udall said.

"I appreciate that the Gallup McKinley County Schools is taking a strong leadership role in helping our state transition to a clean energy economy that protects our natural environment and keeps New Mexico competitive in the future."

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