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Friday, June 8 was an exciting day for San Juan Unified School District (SJUSD). Will Rogers Middle
School held a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of a new studio that will be powered
completely by the sun, enabling students to conduct live broadcasts to different classrooms
throughout the nation.
The small energy efficient building will have PV (photovoltaic) panels, meters, an inverter, and an
electrical panel. The project area includes a courtyard, 8’ x 21’ energy mural, scale wind turbine,
solar ovens, purification stills, and energy modules where student leaders will serve as planners,
site guides, managers, engineers, journalists, builders, and media broadcasters.
Vanir staff have been actively involved with this project since it first started being discussed
with Naomi Harper, Resource Teacher at Will Rogers, in October of 2006. Butch Jackson, a Sr.
Construction Manager with Vanir, started working with Ms. Harper to help her secure the $10,000
Sacramento Municipal Utility District Solar Education Grant.
Additional Vanir employees, Steve Haidet and Nicolaas Bijl, volunteered their time during
February-July of this year. Bijl, who started as an intern with Vanir in 2002 and is now a Field
Engineer at the company’s SJUSD office, had the opportunity to create the unique set of plans for
the studio.
The project has been submitted to the Division of State Architect and is currently under review
for approval.