NEWPORT-Members of the Cocke County Board of Education voted unanimously on a motion by Dr. Ken Johnson on Thursday to allow John Kemp to "move forward" with plans for a solar energy project designed to supplement to system's power supply.

In his presentation to the board, Kemp, representing Earth-Right Energy, pointed out Cocke County's school power bills top one million dollars per year.

Kemp also said the solar project would put systems in areas not in use, such as rooftops. "We need 5,000 square feet," Kemp explained, "for covered structures."

Because Cocke County's schools are in rural settings, they have the needed ground space for such systems, he added.

"We will build the system," said Kemp, "at zero cost to the school system. We pay you for every site. We have identified 15 possible locations for the solar systems."

For more details, please see the latest edition of the Newport Plain Talk.