Greentech Lead Asia: The Shiraishi Daiichi Elementary
School in Miyagi Prefecture has completed solar generating facilities.
The Coca-Cola Japan Reconstruction Fund provided a substantial
grant. The school is the first of those targeted for assistance in
earthquake-stricken areas to have installed such facilities.
The fund provided grants to purchase and install solar
generating facilities. The grants will assist public elementary schools in
Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima Prefectures, and help educate students about the
benefits of clean energy.
The fund decided to offer grants to 50 schools in three
rounds from September 1, 2011, through March 31, 2014. It started accepting
applications for the first round from September 1 through 30, 2011.
A selection committee from the Coca-Cola Japan
Reconstruction Fund assessed the operating and environmental education plans of
applicant schools, choosing 11 of them. Of that number, four are in Iwate
Prefecture, with two in Miyagi Prefecture and the remaining five in Fukushima
Prefecture.
The Shiraishi Daiichi Elementary School received a
consumption tax-inclusive grant from the fund of up to 30 million Japanese yen
to acquire and install solar facilities. They comprise an emergency solar
generator with a maximum capacity of 20 kilowatts and storage batteries with an
aggregate capacity of up to 16 kilowatts.
In September 2012, the fund plans to start its second round
of soliciting applications for solar facilities grants from public elementary
schools in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures.
As well as serving schools through these grants, the fund
also seeks to assist with the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Initiatives will include constructing educational and other public facilities
to help the young live normal lives again.