If you’ve taken a drive by Great Expectations School (GES) in Grand Marais recently, you are sure to have noticed many changes and improvements made to the property and building. The absent yurt, moved playground, and external improvements have all transformed the school into a better version of itself. An expansion project made to improve the lives and education of GES students has been underway for months now. Now, there’s more! Recently, a generous donor gave GES the money to buy and install solar panels. According to director, Rachael Lehman, as a charter school, GES is not eligible for Minnesota’s Solar for School Grants. Being that solar panels can be expensive to install–especially for an entire school–GES would not have been able to afford to install them without this donation. 

“We are beyond grateful for this gift,” said Lehman.

Related: Great Expectation School receives two separate donations of land as expansion (and connection) continues, by Sammie Garrity

Solar energy is renewable and sustainable. In a world persistently affected by climate change, solar energy is a necessary shift to aid in slowing down the warming planet. Solar panels at GES will “Help us lower our school’s carbon footprint, energy costs, and fits perfectly with our goal of being contributing members of the community” said Lehman. These panels will also aid in the longevity of GES as a whole. The solar energy produced will reduce monthly energy bills and allow the school to sell back energy credits to the utility company. 

GES is known for being part of the Cook County community. Whether it is with the annual plant sale or the pancake breakfast, community involvement has always been a major tenet of the GES message. I remember when I went there we would always participate in projects to try and better the community. Whether it was picking up trash or weeding invasive tansy, there was always something that GES was doing for others. Now, with these solar panels, they will be able to give back to the community even more by spreading cleaner energy throughout.