Hibbing Daily Tribune story, Silicon Energy makes first Range delivery, by Anna Kurth, staff writer.
Silicon Energy made its first Iron Range delivery of solar panel modules Tuesday to Hibbing Community College’s Photovoltaic Program.
The Mountain Iron-based solar panel manufacturer has delivered panels elsewhere in the state but was excited to make it’s first Iron Range delivery to HCC, said Bill Richmond, Silicon Energy outside sales and support representative.
“It was an educational opportunity,” he said. “… This is really the community area and college – this is where we want to start. To get it out here was a perfect opportunity to us.”
The company delivered 34 modules to HCC, which the college purchased with a $75,000 grant from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRB).
The college purchased the modules and supporting hardware, which students in the photovoltaic program will install around campus as part of their program.
Instructor Jesse Dahl said he’s planning to use the panels in his classroom with students installing them around campus throughout the next two years.
But that was in the future when the panels arrived on Tuesday, and students grabbed a module from the box and headed outside to hook it up and test its output.
