Norman Public Schools, OEC Partnering To Build Solar Farm

Norman Public Schools thinks committing to solar power will mean more money for the classroom. It’s now partnering with the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OEC) on a 15-acre solar farm near the corner of East 60th Street and Robinson. OEC is leasing

Tuesday, November 19th 2019, 5:27 pm

By: Karl Torp

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Norman Public Schools, OEC Partnering To Build Solar Farm

Norman Public Schools thinks committing to solar power will mean more money for the classroom.

It’s now partnering with the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OEC) on a 15-acre solar farm near the corner of East 60^th Street and Robinson.

OEC is leasing the district property and will build just over 7,200 solar panels.

OEC engineer Nick Schumaker said the 30-year project will cost the OEC around $5 million.

“It should off-set 30% of the electricity the school already consumers,” said Schumaker.

Construction is scheduled to begin soon, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

“We are hoping with this project to add a science and learning center, and make this a destination,” said Schumaker.

OEC has a “Solar Garden” at Interstate 35 and Flood Avenue in Norman. It consists of nearly 1,000 solar panels.

Karl Torp

Karl Torp is an award-winning journalist who’s been part of the News 9 team since 2012. He co-anchors the 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts on weekdays. Karl loves telling Oklahoma’s unique stories, and he’s also a huge sports junkie. He loves to think of trades that would help the Oklahoma City Thunder win a World Championship (despite knowing little to nothing about salary caps and luxury taxes).

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