Turbine Officially Running

Key West High School has officially become the first high school in Florida to have a grid connected turbine following the opening ceremony on Saturday, March 20th. After the ribbon was cut, tours were given of the biodiesel center, and lunch was served in view of the turbine.

Sign commemorates the unveiling of Colbert Wind Turbine

A group of Alternative Energy Center students consisting of Madison Disson, Emily DeRoche and Michael Commander finished their work on a sign that will be placed next to the turbine in order to properly label it.The official opening of the turbine will take place on March 20th at 4 o'clock in front of the turbine; all friends, family and members of the community are invited to attend. It is not yet known who will do the ribbon cutting during the ceremony.

Starting up again

Today, the members of the Energy Center are happy to working on their biodiesel projects once again following a short period of regular class. During this time, the students made their own biodiesel as well as going over a chapter on momentum. All projects that were in progress have been started back up, including building the planter boxes, working on the biodiesel-powered car as well as doing a general clean up in order to get the building looking neat again. 

Recruiting help

  

The Key West High School Alternative Energy Center recieved some help in its efforts to improve the beauty of the surrounding area. Students of Key West High Schools Advanced Placement art program, led by their teacher Mrs. Shannon Perkins, came out to add their creative touch to the Center's efforts. They painted the above mural on the side of the biodiesel building as well as taking some of the rougher looking biodiesel barrels and is turning them into works of art. Although not completely finshed, their work has already done much to improve the look of the Alternative Energy Center, and we thank them for their efforts.

Still making Biodiesel

For the past few days, the students of the Key West High School Alternative Energy Center have been learning how to make biodiesel by making some of it themsevles. Each student brought a 2 liter bottle and followed the process to each make thier own batch of roughly 1 liter of biodiesel. After having made thier own, the students have to clean thier biodiesel using a spray bottle. When the water that has gone through the fuel is completely clear, then entire process is finished.

Students Learn how to Make Biodiesel

Today, instructor Josh Clearman spent most of the period teaching the students of the Center how to make biodiesel on small scale, as well as going over the safety equipment and rules. Tomorow each student will attempt to make thier own 2 liter bottle of biodiesel using the things that we have learned today.

A Daring Rescue

The Key West Alternative Energy Center had a little bit of a crisis after it was discovered that an iguana had gotten itself stuck inside one of the covers above a bay door. A rescue effort led by Sandito Santiago was mounted, and soon most of the class joined in to help. 

At first, Santiago attempted to scare the hapless creature out of the chamber by banging on the door cage, but this served only to upset the iguana.

Next a combination of gentle pulling and prodding was attempted to provoke the creature out of where it had trapped itself but this too proved unsuccessful.

After this, Santiago and his help tried a new strategy by attempting to remove the door cage,  but after it was discovered that this was impossible this effort was abandoned.

Finally an opportunity presented itself and Santiago sprung into action, getting a firm grip on the iguana's tail; After a struggle the iguana finally came free.

 The iguana, of course, was none to happy about being handled, and after a quick photoshoot was set free in the woods along the side of the Center. Hopefully he won't be back.