Franklin County Technical School’s electrical students install the first of nine panels for a 2 kilowatt photovoltaic array
that will track the sun, offset power requirements for the school’s greenhouse, and provide a stream of data
for students to study in the school’s solar training program throughout each year.

The Solar Tower project is the collaborative achievement with Greenfield Community College,
Lane Construction in Northfield, and PV Squared in Greenfield and was undertaken
entirely by student and faculty efforts and a 2008 federal Perkins grant.

Before the electrical students were able to install the photovoltaic (solar) panels,
a lot of work had been done to prepare the site for the pole. Below are pictures that show the extensive
ground preparation and foundation work necessary for the structure.