As if they didn’t have enough to do – On Monday, June 7, the night before their History final, then 7th graders Alexa Lorillard, Isabella Nichol, Callum Slater and Tommaso Wagner, joined graduating 8th grader Kate Gulbrandsen to make the School’s case to the Far Hills Planning Board for installing four vertical-axis Windspires on campus. In a high-wind year, these Windspires could produce almost as much power as the school’s existing solar array, and they could generate power overnight. Most important, the Windspires would provide another opportunity for our students to learn about energy issues right here on our campus.
“We had been studying for finals ahead of time, so attending the meeting wasn’t much of a problem, and luckily, the meeting only lasted an hour,” said Alexa.
This meeting was just one step in what has been a lengthy process for the group. Last March, the students began meeting with Ms. Caitlin Wargo, the school’s Director of Energy and Sustainability, at lunch to prepare themselves to represent the school during the permitting process. Lunchtime speakers included Rick Anderson, who represents Windspire (the manufacturer of the Windspire turbines), Science teacher Mrs. Jane Martin, and former Board Chair and energy expert Mr. Doug Kimmelman, who explained to the group that a lot of renewable energy projects fail to get permit approval.
At Mr. Kimmelman’s suggestion, the students invited Mayor Torsilieri of Far Hills to come to the school to seek his advice on how they might win the town’s approval for the project. Mayor Torsilieri was very positive about the idea of installing the Windspires but reminded students of the importance of being good neighbors to the families living around the campus.
“The Mayor said we needed to make sure we reached out to our neighbors, since they will be affected by the wind project too,” said Alexa.
Heeding the mayor’s advice, the group, along with fellow task force member John Cree (now in 8th grade), met with interested neighbors last spring. Discussing the idea with neighbors gave students a great leg up as they prepared for the June 7 meeting, a meeting that was a “Concept Review,” and did not result in a vote.
“We had practiced,” said Tommaso, “and the Mayor told us to be prepared for anything, so we had to know a lot.” “Even if you don’t agree with what people are saying, you have to listen,” he added.
Alexa shared that sentiment, stating that this experience has taught the group a lot about how to make a successful argument. “We had to know our stuff, and be respectful of other people’s opinions,” she said, ending with “we also learned that you might need to meet in the middle, if you can’t agree.
The Planning Board had several questions, on topics ranging from bird strikes to noise and where the Windspires were manufactured.
“They gave us insight into what the community might think,” said Alexa. The group plans to use those insights as they prepare for the formal meeting this fall.
“This is an experience that can’t be taught,” said Tommaso.
“Our students hope to carry through a 'yes' vote at this fall’s planning board meeting, but even if they don’t succeed, they’ve gotten a tremendous education along the way,” said Ms. Wargo. "They have learned about themselves, about politics and compromise, and about being responsible stewards of the environment.” And those are lessons that will serve them and others well for the rest of their lives.
