4 minute read
Field of Sunbeams
OEC partners with Norman Public Schools in renewable energy project
By Doug Hill
A professional relationship that began last century on the hardwood basketball court of Norman High School has led to an energetic business alliance today. In the 1990s, now Oklahoma Electric Cooperative Chief Executive Officer Patrick Grace was a high school student. Back then, today’s Norman Public Schools’ superintendent Dr. Nick Migliorino was an instructor with basketball coach duties.
“I played basketball at Norman High when Nick Migliorino was a graduate assistant coach,” Grace said. “So we have a relationship going back over 20 years. We didn’t stay in touch but when he came back to Norman we reconnected at Rotary Club.”
During recent conversations the two men along with others in the community recognized an opportunity for a collaboration between OEC and NPS.
“OEC engineer Nick Shumaker speaks a lot in the community about what we do and at some point it was suggested to him that another solar farm similar to the one we have at I-35 and Flood Avenue could be constructed on NPS property near NE 60th and Robinson,” Grace said.
The I-35 and Flood Solar Garden is highly visible from the interstate. So much so that around a dozen vehicles have run off the highway when drivers were rubbernecking it. Solar farms are large arrays of photovoltaic panels that capture sunlight and turn it into electricity. Visually they have a kind of striking space-age appearance.
“We had initial meetings with a few teachers who were passionate about solar power,” Grace said. “I got connected with Dr. Nick and asked if that’s something they’d be interested in.”
NPS has strategic real estate investments around town waiting for development. A statement at their website about the partnership reads in part: “The Norman Board of Education approved an agreement to lease district-owned land to OEC to develop the solar farm, which will reduce the school district’s energy costs and provide educational opportunities for students.”
OEC buys 100% of its power from Western Farmer’s Electric Cooperative (WFEC) headquartered in Anadarko to distribute to its members. Those at WFEC came on board with the collaboration.
“Patrick Grace was the same kind of basketball player that he is chief executive officer,” NPS superintendent Dr. Nick Migliorino said. “Focused, hardworking and talented.”
Migliorino has a basketball autographed by Grace in his office. He agreed that their early association undoubtedly led to the project that would benefit OEC members, NPS students and indeed the entire community.
“Everything in life is about relationships,” Migliorino said. “From student to now, Patrick is just a genuine guy, very sharp, knows his stuff and has all the right motives for the things he does.”
Northeast 60th and Robinson is a pretty good hike out into east exurban Norman. Unlike the spectacular I-35 Solar Garden, NPS’ sunbeam catching field can’t be seen from the two lane road. It’s behind a house but constructed so there’d be no interference if adding a new elementary school on the property was a goal. “NPS gets a revenue stream from OEC leasing it and we get the chance to learn more from another solar project which is quite a bit bigger than the one along the highway,” Grace said.
Financially the pay-off will be long term. Presently WFEC gets approximately 30% of their juice from renewables.
“I expect the finances will improve over time,” Grace said. “The vision is for there to be an educational component built into these solar farms.”
OEC has conducted over 100 tours of its Solar Garden for a variety of interested student and citizen groups. Superintendent Migliorino has been one of the avid pupils.
“The level of solar energy at these farms and all the behind-the-scenes work that goes into it is just incredible,” Migliorino said. “Truly what I’ve learned is that this solar farm will supply enough power into the grid that it essentially could run our two high schools, which is impressive. That’s the real applied piece.
Norman’s city council has a plan for advancing toward 100% renewable energy and this project will contribute to that civic-minded goal.
“It’s something the USA as a whole will continue to look at,” Migliorino said. “You see what other states are doing, it’s top of mind and it has to be. It’s not for you or me, it’s for the future of all of us, our kids and grandkids. The technology continues to evolve and is changing every single day.”
OEC is part of that evolution and intends to continue learning about, improving and expanding renewable energy operations into the future.
This particular project, spearheaded and led by OEC's Shumaker, has been three years in the making. From design, sight layout and economics, to collaboration, equipment selection and engineering, Shumaker has overseen every step of this groundbreaking project.
“I am very proud of the way this project came together and the support from so many in seeing it come to fruition,” he said. “It has a lot of potential to provide very unique educational opportunities for years to come. Our community is lucky to have it.”
