Provide electricity to 500 students in Belize

Dear All,

Thanks to all of you in helping make our solar renewable project at Holy Cross Anglican Public School in Belize (HCAS) as effective as possible! For this quarter's report, I provide more of an intermediate, but important, update.

Although I have not made a site visit since early June, I'm pleased to report that our "next phase" expansion is officially underway. In the last couple of weeks, our solar energy provider, SESB, sent a crew to HCAS to begin work. During this visit, they removed the oldest, now obsolete, set of solar panels. These occupied roof space over the school office -- where parents come to register their children and meet with school staff. The removal was not only important for site-preparation reasons, but also because the roof had been leaking for nearly a year. Gratefully, the school can now proceed with these much needed roof repairs.

Secondly, the SESB team also relocated all of the "System 2" panels. "System 2" provides power to the classroom areas of the school, and the school kitchen/cafeteria. The SESB crew moved them to a larger, much sturdier/flatter roof area, while completing needed wiring extensions. The extensions also provide conduit for the planned addition of more solar panels there.

As with the roof above the office area, System 2's original roof was also deteriorating. The school can now replace this roof as well, preventing water from dripping into classroom space below.

Our expansion goal is to provide "as much solar as is possible," not solely for renewable energy reasons, but also to foster self-reliance. We believe we can reach a 70% offset, which will be huge for the school and its community.

With your help, we've now officially begun the expansion!  And, the school campus is now "site-ready" to install on the order of 50 new panels, pending finding the needed funds.

When I next visit in late January 2025, we hope to have attracted donations sufficient to sign an initial purchase contract. You all will be a most important part of raising those funds. We can't do it without you, we thank you, and invite you to spread the word!

Most sincerely,

John