All four schools receiving Coca-Cola Japan Reconstruction Fund grants in
Shinchi, Fukushima, complete solar power facilities
Fund soliciting applicants for stage two of grants
TOKYO, September 10, 2012 - The

Students from Shinchi Elementary School, which installed solar generating facilities
The Fund decided to assist Shinchi Elementary School, Fukuda Elementary School, Komagamine Elementary School, and Shoei Junior High School after evaluating requests to help reinforce disaster management with new solar power facilities and to help educate pupils about clean energy. The Fund is paying a consumption tax-inclusive grant of up to \30 million to acquire and install solar facilities. They comprise an emergency solar generator with a maximum capacity of 20 kilowatts and storage batteries with an aggregate capacity of up to 16 kilowatts.
Mayor Norio Kato greeted attendees and delivered opening remarks about Shinchi’s recovery. Daniel H. Sayre, Representative Director & President of
After the ceremony, students and participants looked at the solar generation and usage monitor, solar panels, and other facilities.
Shinchi began planning its reconstruction immediately after the massive destruction of the Great East Japan Earthquake. The town is deploying a “smart” urban infrastructure in keeping with its Eco-Future City (see references) designation under the auspices of the Cabinet Office. Having solar power facilities installed at all of its schools is the first step in the town’s urban development program, which aims to secure clean energy for regular and emergency usage.
The town’s schools maintain distinctive environmental courses. Shinchi Elementary School focuses on educating about solar and wind power. Shoei Junior High School, which is participating in the Future School program of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, plans to teach about nuclear power generation as well as solar generation. All of the local schools and the town will collaborate in researching solar power and announcing their findings as part of the town’s overall efforts to acquire knowledge about the environment and energy.
The
In the first round, the fund chose to offer grants to 11 schools including the four in Shinchi. Schools in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures have already started installing and operating solar power facilities.
In the second stage of solicitations, from Saturday, September 1, through Sunday, September 30, the fund will select 15 schools, possibly more, for grants. The fund will continue to aid with reconstruction in disaster-hit areas.
Overview of Second Stage of the
Solicitation period: |
Saturday, September 1, through Sunday, September 30, 2012 |
Grant recipients: |
At least 15 public elementary and junior high schools in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures |
Assistance: |
A consumption tax-inclusive grant of up to \30 million to acquire and install solar facilities, including an emergency solar generator with a maximum capacity of 20 kilowatts and storage batteries with an aggregate capacity of up to 16 kilowatts (note that the consumption tax-inclusive grant would be up to \20 million where solely installing solar generating facilities). |
Application method: |
Download the application form through the |
General inquiries: |
Coca-Cola Japan Reconstruction Fund Office (within premises of |
Note: Visit the |

President of
delivering a speech

a letter of appreciation to Kyo Suzuki,
President of Sendai
References: |
Eco-Future City concept under auspices of Cabinet office: http://futurecity.rro.go.jp/ |
■ Solar generating facilities installed at schools

Fukuda Elementary School

Shinchi Elementary School

Komagamine Elementary School

Shoei Junior High School
Number of solar panels | Maximum hourly generating capacity |
|
Fukuda Elementary School |
96 | 21.6kilowatts |
Shinchi Elementary School |
80 | 20kilowatts |
Komagamine Elementary School |
96 | 22.3kilowatts |
Shoei Junior High School |
72 | 20.8kilowatts |
■Comments
Norio Kato, Mayor of Shinchi
A 16-meter-high tsunami attacked the town of Shinchi following a magnitude 9.0 earthquake at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2011. All of us here witnessed the tsunami’s destruction and cruelty. Many children experienced unimaginable trauma in losing their homes and families.
Fortunately, the town’s schools survived the disaster to become evacuation centers for numerous people. But there was no electricity, so from the outset of their misery, people had to rely on candles and torches. With snow falling, fuel for the generators gathered from around town soon ran out. The convenience of simply pressing a switch to get light or heating had vanished; never before had we realized just how precious electricity is to us.
In the meantime, mishaps were unfolding at the nuclear power plant, creating tremendous confusion for us initially. Shinchi miraculously experienced relatively little radiation exposure despite its location along Hama-dori in Fukushima Prefecture, so in that respect were able to return fairly quickly to normality. Our experience underscored the importance to making our schools sufficiently secure, safe and disaster-resilient to serve properly as evacuation centers. We considered it particularly important to maintain uninterruptible supplies of power. While we were mulling the challenges, the
Solar facilities will be very useful during blackouts. They can also serve in educating children about an energy source that is free of carbon dioxide emissions. As soon as children get to school in the mornings, they check how much power is available, and this practice enhances their energy awareness. I also look for the solar facilities to boost interest in safeguarding the environment.
Hiroyuki Watanabe, Principal of Shinchi Elementary School
I am deeply grateful to the
Our school functioned as one of several evacuation centers following the massive destruction of the Great East Japan Earthquake, but we lacked electricity and other essentials.
Our new solar facilities are a huge advance in our evacuation center role, we will be able to provide backup power and gather vital information during outages.
Another blessing with the new facilities is that the fund provided a visualization system that makes it easy for children to understand how solar generation works. Solar power has become integral to school life among all of our students, for whom it is essential to learn about renewable energy for when they shape the nation’s future.
We will harness the solar facilities from the fund as part of science and environmental education and to increase student awareness of the need to conserve energy in everyday living.
Daniel H. Sayre, Representative Director & President,
We are very happy to be able to dedicate your new solar panel power generation system today.
Since the event of last year, the Tohoku area, and especially Fukushima prefecture have become world famous for your tenacity and perseverance to overcome difficulty. You have shown how optimism is so important for creating the future with our young people.
At
I would like to encourage the students here today to keep up the great work you have continued since last year. I’m sure your teachers and parents, and everyone in Shinchi Town will be supporting you as you become the citizens of tomorrow. You can also be sure that
Thank you again for your partnership and we humbly look forward to continuing it long into the future.
Reference Materials
■Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The
Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The
“I am gratified to see the progress we have made with delivering on the promise of our
During his visit, Mr. Kent also met with 20 students from Shoei Junior High School of Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, which is one of the recipients in


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The following website details the activities of the
(http://www.cocacola.co.jp/info/donation/en_index.html)
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