The Solarize Chapel Hill initiative could soon be helping local students learn to harness the power of the sun.

The effort encourages homeowners to work together to earn group discounts on solar panels for residential use. Now, for each home that goes solar, money will be donated to build educational solar arrays at Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools.

Homeowners who enroll will vote for their school of choice, and if enough families participate in the program, the school with the most votes will have a solar array installed where students can regularly access it.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools are already constructing one such array at McDougal Middle School. A dedication will take place Friday, October 24 at 1:30 in the afternoon.

If you want to learn more about Solarize Chapel Hill you can attend an information session at 7 p.m. on Monday, October 27 at Chapel Hill High, or visit http://www.solarizenc.org/howitworks