Columbia Gorge Discovery Center

The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center’s Solar Demonstration Project was developed by Columbia Gorge Community College students enrolled in the Renewable Energy Technology Program. Funded by Google and Bonneville Environmental Foundation with support from Bonneville Power Administration, the project is designed to engage visitors in learning about renewable energy. Renewable energy interpretive displays featuring energy generation helps the Discovery Center meet its mission to inspire appreciation and stewardship of the environment for future generations.

Energy monitoring services provided by Solar 4R Schools™ to the Center has transformed the system into an interactive interpretive tool. Through the Energy Exploration Center at Solar4RSchools.org, students and educators nationwide can now chart, graph and analyze the system's performance data to understand the influences of system size, type, and weather on energy production. A touchscreen kiosk located in a high traffic area of the Center gives visitors the chance to interact with the system's performance data while learning key facts about the science and benefits of renewable energy.