Whitefield, N.H. — Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) met with White Mountains Regional High School (WMRHS) educators and students to talk about a new student-led effort to bring clean energy lighting efforts to the campus. Students at WMRHS decided they wanted to lead the way forward for their community to embrace clean energy, starting by replacing WMRHS’s 1966 lighting system with energy-efficient lighting in classrooms and halls. When completed this project resulted in an estimated annual cost savings of $12,954 and stopped the dependence on carbon-related energy production. The USDA contributed $107,400 to support this effort.

“Addressing the climate crisis is going to take all of us, and I was so thrilled to see Granite State students answer that call and create change at home,” said Rep. Kuster. “The vision, drive, and passion of the White Mountains Regional High School students is inspiring, and I was so impressed with their project. These students are going places, and I look forward to supporting more innovative projects like theirs across the state to build a more sustainable New Hampshire.”

“Over the past three years, I have been co-advising the WMRHS Sustainability club — SOSS (Society of Sustainable Spartans),” said Aidan Howry, a teacher at White Mountains Regional High School. “The students have two main goals — the first being energy reduction and conservation, with the end goal of transitioning to renewable energy, preferably solar, and the second being waste reduction and conservation. My role has been to coach and advise the students through their projects and initiatives as they pursue their goals. Winter of 2020 the students applied for the USDA Rural Development Grant to assist with the installation of LED lights. The purpose of this lightning project was to reduce the base electrical consumption of the school — helping to reduce the school's carbon footprint as well as reduce the size requirement for a proposed future solar array. I am excited to continue advising these students as they work towards helping WMRHS become a climate leader within the community.”

“During this crucial time in our history, the students, teachers and staff of White Mountains High School are showing us what climate-smart thinking can accomplish,” said Sarah Waring, State Director of USDA Rural Development in New Hampshire. “Their two-phase climate action plan to reduce carbon emissions is an example of the innovative projects that USDA Rural Development is so eager to support. When the positive environmental impacts benefit both a community and school by decreasing costs and increasing educational opportunities, that’s what progress in the face of climate change looks like.”

“This was a great partnership between Eversource, White Mountain Regional High School STEM students, CleanEnergy NH, NH Saves, and others to bring innovative energy efficient lighting to the school,” said Catalina J. Celentano, Senior Specialist, Community Relations and Economic Development at Eversource. “This project will serve as an example to other schools in the state to show how innovative efficiency technology can help them save energy, lower costs, and teach their students energy efficiency opportunities.”

As a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Agriculture Committee, Rep. Kuster is a key force in Congress for advancing clean energy legislation. 

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