Feb. 27, 2003 – For the second year in row, Maho Bay Camps on St. John will join with Solar Energy International to present a two-week solar energy workshop, set for April 28-May 9 at Maho Bay.
The first week will be devoted to classroom presentations and book work. In the second week, participants will get hands-on experience building a solar power system.
Jared Hill, Maho Bay Camps environmental resources officer, said the SEI workshop is geared toward people interested in learning about renewable energy. "There's so much sun, there's no reason not to use solar," he said.
He said using solar energy allows Virgin Islands residents to be "power independent," particularly after a hurricane. And they can take advantage of the V.I. Energy Office rebates for renewable energy materials.
The cost is $550 for the first week only and $1,050 for both weeks. Participants receive a 20 percent discount on lodging at Maho Bay Camps. A $27-a-day meal plan covers breakfast and dinner.
SEI is based in Carbondale, Colorado. Its renewable energy education program teaches the practical use of solar, wind and water power. The workshops provide participants with the knowledge and skills to design, install and maintain renewable energy systems, and to build state-of-the-art solar homes that are efficient, practical and Earth-friendly. A hands-on approach is utilized, with commercial products and field installations.
Since its opening 25 years ago, Maho Bay Camps been an innovator and a pioneer in ecologically sensitive resort practices. Under the same ownership, Harmony Studios adjacent to the campground was the first resort to operate entirely "off the grid," meaning that it uses no Water and Power Authority electricity. A later Maho Bay development, Concordia Eco-Tents, also operates off the grid.
To register for the workshop, call Hill at 776-6226 or (800) 451-9288, or contact him by e-mail at Maho Bay. To make reservations to stay at Maho Bay, call 715-0501 or (800) 392-9004.
For more information, visit the SEI Web site, which has lots of links to information about solar power and other forms of renewable energy. For information about Maho Bay Camps, visit the Maho Bay Web site. For local solar information, call the V.I. Energy Office at 714-2815.
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