CREST Center

Project Partners: Blue Heron Paper Company, West Linn Paper Company Location: Wilsonville, OR Capacity: 1.1 kW Type of Power: Solar Placed into Service: September 2003 Project Links: CREST Center

The Center for Research in Environmental Sciences & Technologies (CREST) Center is the fourth of BEF's Solar 4R Schools installations. CREST is an environmental education center that engages students in hands-on, minds-on science, field research and community service projects. CREST offers outreach and on-site programs for West Linn-Wilsonville School district students (K-12) and provides resources to teachers and the community. CREST is the centerpiece of science education and leads students in active research and rigorous inquiry.

The Solar 4R Schools program provides a demonstrable means of educating students on the functions and benefits of solar electric power at no financial cost to the schools. In addition to producing clean, renewable energy, each school’s solar power system includes a curriculum package that uses web-based, real-time data generated by each installation to help teachers instruct students on the benefits of renewable energy.

In addition to the standard 1.1 kW system, BEF’s Solar 4R Schools program provides CREST with data monitoring and meteorological sensors that are used by all students in the district.