ARC awards grant for W.Va. solar energy project

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — A solar energy project at University High School is getting help from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

The commission has awarded a $40,000 grant to help pay for installing a solar panel system on the south wall of the Morgantown school's gymnasium.

West Virginia University announced the grant Monday. WVU assistant science education professor Jeffrey Carver is coordinating the project.

Students will be able to analyze electricity produced by the six-kilowatt system's panels through an Internet-based monitoring system.

McDowell County High School has a similar system Carver says the schools could collaborate and exchange data.