Little USA Gets the Green Light for Solar Installation Workshop
PRESS RELEASE
JUNE 11, 2021
Union Springs, AL
Little USA and the Bullock County Schools have agreed to partner in a first-time-ever solar installation and career workshop at South Highlands Middle School in Union Springs on August 9- 12, 2021. The workshop will be accompanied by a Green Energy Fair to be held at the school on the last day of the installation and will feature a Green School Bus developed by the school district and the University of Alabama Huntsville with ongoing activities managed by Anwar Walker, who has spear-headed the Little USA Sustainability Club in the district.
The solar panels will be installed over a community garden started by Mr. Walker and his students with the intention of learning which crops will do best to grow under the solar canopy. Mr. Walker is the county schools’ 4H lead and wants his students to conduct research into the new field of Agrivoltaics along with neighboring Auburn University students and other regional institutions of higher education.
The workshop and installation will be led by Little USA’s Joe Mitchell, a certified trainer for NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals), veteran electrician and solar installer, and community college instructor. The 4-day session will be open to twelve participants including educators at all levels in the county, electrical and agricultural students, and community members interested in learning more about employment opportunities in green energy. Attendance will also qualify participants to be part of the first NABCEP certification training offered by Little USA.
Herb Ferrette, CEO of Little USA said, “This is an opportunity to begin to fulfill the long-term goal of Little USA which is to build and maintain a Green Energy education and training center at the Little USA site donated by the Jordan-Hall family of Union Springs.
“This project will be the first real demonstration of what Little USA will become in the Union Springs community.” Mr. Ferrette went on to stress the importance of building employment and educational opportunities in the green energy, electrical, and agricultural fields for residents of Bullock County and the region, which has been a centerpiece of the Little USA mission.
Herb Ferrette also believes that the Agrivoltaic project at South Highlands will catch the attention of funders and help Little USA move forward with its larger effort at the Little USA site along Highway 85. “This program will really show that we are serious about creating a partnership with education institutions and career training that will fill a vital need in the region in the years to come,” Ferrette said.
The project and partnership received key endorsements from Dr. Christopher Blair, Superintendent of Bullock County Schools, Mrs. Keila Browder, Principal of South Highlands Middle School, and Dr. Marvin Lowe, Director of the Bullock County Career and Technical Center.
