Going Green is School District's Goal

One of the state's largest school districts also wants to be the greenest, but they need millions of dollars in stimulus money.

More than 6,000 students change classes every day between Plymouth, Canton and Salem high schools. They have no choice but to make this trek, even in the rain, snow and cold.

"The coldest of Michigan winter is our ally for summer cooling and the strength of the June sun in Michigan is our ally to heat in wintertime," said alternative energy specialist Reyn Hendrickson, who sees the sprawling Plymouth-Canton Educational Park as a green opportunity.

In fact, district officials want to cover all 2,300 feet of the campus' walkways with solar panels, providing heat for the students and generating extra energy to be used in the schools. They're hoping to use stimulus money to do it.

"There's part of the stimulus package that identifies some of these kinds of projects. So, we've applied for some grants. We've put things in for the state and the federal," said Plymouth-Canton Superintendent Fred Fiegel.

Other plans include using wind, thermal heating and high efficiency lighting. Another alternative energy project involves cooling a gym with night air instead of fossil fuels.

The district estimates it could save more than $2-million a year in energy costs with an initial investment of $13-million. If they get the funding, the projects could get underway as early as this summer and would also create green jobs.