Green Energy Academy Lauded at Bloomfield Tech

They've installed solar panels, erected a wind turbine, and built a geodesic dome greenhouse that is powered with natural energy.

In the four years since the Green Energy Academy began at Essex County's Bloomfield Tech high school campus, the students there have participated in hands-on training to prepare them for careers in sustainable energy.

On Wednesday, state and county leaders visted the school to see their handiwork and to congratulate the academy's first graduating class.

"You see something happening here that in a lot of other places people are just talking about," said Ralph LaRossa, president and chief operating officer of Public Service Electric & Gas, one of the primary funders of the Green Energy program.

"We are the first to get on board with Green Energy and sustainability," said Supt. of Schools, Michael Pennella. "This is just one reason why these county vo-tech schools are transforming the future."

The program, led by Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, concluded with students showing elected officials and school district staff recent different Green Energy projects.

Ibn Alston, 17, of East Orange, led a tour of the student-built greenhouse filled with growing tomatoes, zucchinis and cucumbers. "I'm proud of this greenhouse," he said, and said he program helps prepare students for real world jobs. "Business is booming. The world is in a crisis and green energy is going to take us out of it."

Senior Tevan Dennis of Irvington talked about constructing solar panels at the school that bring in energy, which is stored in batteries. The batteries power the lights and automatic watering system in the greenhouse and also powered to speakers used for the program last week.

"This program is unbelievable," he said. "There's so much hands-on work, you do get actual experience."

Besides building projects at school, the students made a presentation at Ernst & Young in Secaucus and also worked closely with "Learning Tree" a program sponsored by the US Division of Parks and Forestry.

Teacher Todd Menadier, who supervised the Green Energy Academy since its inception, said the students also participated in a youth leadership conference in Minnesota and the Earth Day celebration at the county's Environmental Center.

"They are well-prepared and confident to enter into this field," he said. "And they walk out of these doors with a strong work ethic."

Bloomfield Tech, a blue-ribbon school, is part of the Essex County Vocational-Technical high school system. Students apply to attend the high school and are chosen from all over Essex County.