Major League Soccer Unveils Solar Panels on LA School

Remember how Major League Soccer (MLS) made a commitment to install solar panels at a local school in the city of the MLS Cup champion? And then the LA Galaxy won.

Well, today MLS W.O.R.K.S., the Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative, is delivering on their promise by unveiling a 2.1 kW solar array at KIPP Los Angeles College Preparatory School, located in East LA. The new panels are anticipated to produce 3,034 kWh of clean energy per year. 

Broadcasting their commitment to educating the next generation of energy users, MLS W.O.R.K.S. and Continental Tire combined efforts with Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) and the NRDC to participate in BEF’s Solar 4R Schools project. Solar 4R Schools provides schools nationwide with hands-on teaching tools including science kits, lesson plans and photovoltaic solar arrays to help students learn about the importance of solar, wind and other renewable energy technologies.

Starting at 2.30pm this afternoon, players from the LA Galaxy and about 35 students and teachers from KIPP Los Angeles College Preparatory School will be participating in the launch of the solar array and education program for the school.

To kickoff the renewable energy education program, the students will build miniature solar cars with small solar modules that are powered by the sun. The event will culminate in a solar car derby, with students and Galaxy players racing the solar cars side-by-side.

The event also includes a beautification projects, which took place over the weekend in commemoration of Earth Day 2012.  

Though this is the first MLS Solar 4R Schools project, BEF has installed photovoltaic systems on 193 schools and community centers across the country. These solar systems have generated over 6 million KWh to date. They have saved over 8.5 million pounds of CO2 from entering the atmosphere by replacing fossil fuel-sourced electricity with clean renewable solar sources.

The total installed capacity of the entire Solar 4R Schools network is about 2.4 Megawatts. Over the last year, BEF’s network of solar systems together generated enough energy to power more than 175 American homes.

And this network of solar systems will keep growing as MLS and Continental Tire have already committed to build another $50,000 solar array and education program at a local school for the MLS team with the greenest fans.

In fact, MLS W.O.R.K.S. is already encouraging fans to visit the Greener Goals website to prove their “greenness” by sharing stories of how they incorporate green efforts into their everyday lives. 

The MLS market with the greenest MLS fans will win a solar panel installation for a deserving school in their city for Earth Day 2013. One fan will also win the grand prize of a trip to the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game and a set of Continental Tire EcoPlus technology tires.

The sweepstakes will continue until June 29 and the MLS city to be awarded the next Solar 4R Schools solar array will be announced during the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game.

So go prove your greenness, earn solar panels for a school near you and maybe you’ll also win free tickets for the 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game.