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Two seventh graders, Ocean Durden and David Song, ceremonially flipped the switch on more than 500 new solar panels at the Mount Vernon School in Sandy Springs during an Oct. 28 assembly.
As fifth graders, Durden and Song researched solar energy’s environmental and financial benefits for a fifth-grade project and presented their recommendation to school leadership. Their proposal sparked further exploration and ultimately led to a partnership with Cherry Street Energy to bring their idea to reality.
Mount Vernon partnered with Atlanta-based commercial solar power provider Cherry Street Energy to install solar panels on the rooftops of Mount Vernon’s Middle and Upper School buildings.
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Since August, more than 500 solar panels have been operating on the roofs of the middle and upper schools thanks to Durden and Song’s project, which began two years ago.
Cherry Street fully financed the project and will operate and maintain the two systems, covering associated maintenance costs, while selling the energy to Mount Vernon.
Andrew Quigley, an account executive with Cherry Street Energy, said the company’s unique business model allows it to act as an alternative to energy providers like Georgia Power. Other metro Atlanta educational institutions have partnered with Cherry Street, including the Davis Academy, Decatur City Schools, Atlanta International School, Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, and Woodward Academy.
Combined, the systems produce more than 300,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, providing more than 15% of the facilities’ energy demands. The estimated annual energy production is equivalent to the electricity needed to power 25 homes and will help avoid 200 metric tons of carbon emissions.
After the assembly, Durden and Song spoke with Rough Draft Atlanta about their project. Mount Vernon has its fifth graders complete an Impact Summit, where they demonstrate their critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.
During their project, the duo met with the CEO of a Colorado-based solar panel manufacturer, the chief financial officer of Mount Vernon, and took a trip to Georgia Power headquarters. They thought it was over, but school leadership was inspired and pursued a local partnership.
Durden said he first discovered the renewable energy technology while driving past a solar farm in South Georgia. Similarly, Song said he learned that solar panels were sustainable after asking his parents about them when he was younger.
Song said he wants to know how much the solar panels will help communities save energy and reduce the need to burn fossil fuels.
Durden said other students interested in similar projects should know the project took two years and didn’t happen overnight.
“It may take time and patience,” he said. “Don’t always give up on a project.”
Courtney Stillwagon, chief financial and operations officer at Mount Vernon, said solar energy offers the school a meaningful return over time.
“Not just in dollars saved, but in the values we model for our students,” Stillwagon said. “When we invest in clean energy, we are also investing in the next generation of leaders.”
Michael Chanin, founder & CEO of Cherry Street Energy, said fifth graders at Mount Vernon saw a power plant where most people saw a school roof.
“Today, that roof produces electricity that Mount Vernon buys from Cherry Street Energy at a fixed price, without putting up its own capital,” Chanin said. “These students helped their school make a lasting decision about how it buys power.”
Kristy Lundstrom, Head of School and CEO of Mount Vernon said Ocean and David started with a question, did the research, and made a case for change.
“Their idea moved beyond the classroom to become a lasting investment in our school and our future,” Lundstrom said. “That’s the power of giving students the agency to act on what matters to them and create positive change for others.”
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Hayden Sumlin is a staff writer for Rough Draft Atlanta, covering Sandy Springs, Fulton County, Norcross, and real estate news. More by Hayden Sumlin
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