(TNS) — Towne Avenue Elementary School has received Carson’s first “solar kitchen,” which uses sunlight to cook food.

The campus, in a partnership with Ormat Technologies, a leading geothermal company, and Enrich LA — a movement to plant gardens at schools across the Los Angeles area — now has a hands-on outdoor classroom powered entirely by renewable energy.

A solar kitchen is an alternative to using a stove or oven to cook food, instead using sunlight. With this new learning environment, more than 300 students will be able to see how sunlight powers the food they grow and the meals they prepare.

“At Towne Avenue Elementary Community School, we’re proud to give our students hands-on learning experiences that connect directly to the world around them,” said Towne Avenueprincipal Wendy Sanchez. “Our partnership with Enrich LA and Ormat Technologies helps students learn about the importance of clean energy and how sustainability and creativity can build a better future.”

Enrich LA has extended this vision through its Garden Ranger Program, bringing not only gardens to schools, but also high-quality environmental education.

“We believe every child should experience the joy of growing, harvesting and preparing real food,” said Tomas O’Grady, executive director of Enrich LA. “The new garden and solar kitchen will help students see how sunlight powers the meals they make, connecting sustainability and community in a joyful, lasting way.”

Towne Avenue Elementary School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Nov. 21, which Kyle Snyder, vice president of business development for Ormat Technologies, and Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes attended, emphasizing not only environmental education for students, but also a renewable energy future for the city.

“Our future in Carson is being built on innovation, sustainability and opportunity,” Davis-Holmes said. “This partnership gives our kids firsthand experience with renewable energy and shows them that a cleaner, healthier Carson is something they can help create today.”

Ormat Technologies is dedicated to creating a sustainable future for Carson, Snyder said, with plans to accelerate long-term growth in the energy storage market. Other projects in the city include a plan to build the “Griffith Energy Storage Project,” a 100 megawatt/400 megawatt-hour facility.

“At Ormat, clean energy is more than technology; it’s a promise to the next generation that a cleaner, brighter future is within reach,” Snyder said. “We’re honored to partner with Towne Avenue Elementary and Enrich LA to give students a tangible way to see renewable energy in action.”

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