Sunday May 4

State's neglecting students' solar bid

Editorial

We hope the state is taking seriously a student proposal to bring solar panels to Hillsdale High School because, right now, it appears the project may be adrift in the bureaucracy.

The Division of the State Architect's review of the plans has delayed installation for months and it has not even verified that it has received the request. It would be far better to process the project in a timely manner or, barring that, acknowledge to students that their proposal is inching its way through the approval process.

Science students at the school launched the Solar Our Schools project in the fall, and things were going fine for a while. They secured assistance from the oil giant BP, Home Depot and Owens Electric and Solar, and they have already received approvals from their school district and the city of San Mateo.

The students hoped to see the panels in place three months ago but they are still waiting to hear from the state. Now one senior involved fears she will graduate before that happens. It's possible.

The state should acknowledge that it has in fact received the students' ambitious proposal and - dare we hope? - process it in a timely fashion.