Last year’s Henry Bellmon Sustainability Awards Gala donated 40% of the proceeds to a project of choice that exemplified sustainability. In 2010 the project of choice by the Henry Bellmon Sustainability Awards Steering Committee was the McLain Renewable Energy Project.

Sustainable Tulsa will coordinate the McLain Renewable Energy Project in partnership with McLain High School for Science and Technology, Tulsa Community College North East Campus Renewable Energy Program and the Oklahoma Indian Health Care Resource Center. The project’s main objective is to provide hands-on experience for McLain High School students to design and install a renewable energy system. The students will shadow the Renewable Energy Design class as they design and install a unique photovoltaic panel system. Photovoltaic panels are solar cells joined in a module to convert solar energy into electricity. The photovoltaic system will provide energy to the McLain Green House used by the sustainable agriculture council and green schools program.

Click here to view the McLain photo gallery.

As a result of the partnership between Sustainable Tulsa and the Rotary Club of Southside Tulsa, Sustainable Tulsa was awarded two more grants to complement the funds earned by the Henry Bellmon Awards Gala. AT&T granted $10,000 and Williams granted $5,000 toward the projects. Other donations are being made as well to grow the McLain Renewable Energy Program. Ron Jones, the 2010 Henry Bellmon Sustainability Awards Gala Keynote Speaker, is making a donation to the program, as well as offering free tuition to McLain Students to enroll in the Green Builder College. Current amount raised for the McLain Renewable Energy Project is $27,700, plus in-kind donations.

Due to additional funding Sustainable Tulsa was able to add the Renewable Energy Gateway component, career development, to include guest speakers visiting McLain High School and job shadowing in the renewable energy industry.

The photovoltaic panels will be installed by summer of 2011. To follow the project and learn more visit www.sustainabletulsa.org.