SunPower Foundation Partners with One Million Lights to Bring Solar Education into Classrooms Worldwide

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The SunPower Foundation today announced that it is teaming up with One Million Lights, a Palo Alto-based nonprofit that provides solar lighting to rural communities globally, to launch a solar education program for K-12 schools called One Million Students. The program provides educators with grade-appropriate curriculum structured to increase student understanding of how solar works and how it is being applied to generate clean, renewable energy in locations around the world.

The One Million Students program features three, one-hour lesson plans which highlight real-life case studies on solar technology use worldwide along with interactive learning tools including solar-powered LED lights and solar electricity testing kits. Teachers can choose curriculum based on specific education levels: elementary school, middle school or high school. Plans can be integrated into existing environmental studies, math and science courses, and delivered by SunPower or One Million Lights representatives.

At the beginning of this year, SunPower and One Million Lights piloted the One Million Students program in San Francisco Bay Area classrooms.

"The One Million Students program has touched the hearts and minds of our 270 seventh-grade students," said Curtis Schneider, a teacher at Egan Junior High School in Los Altos, Calif. "During a recent three-day lesson, our students were taught the science of creating light with the sun and then learned how One Million Lights is bringing solar LED lights to those who live in an off-grid world. As a teacher, I value students learning how science can help the planet and those who are less fortunate. Two thumbs up and best wishes for the future of this program."

"SunPower and our employees were pleased to pilot One Million Students in local schools and the positive results have encouraged us to make its valuable curriculum available more broadly," said Doug Richards, SunPower Foundation chairman. "The program will help to educate the next generation of solar leaders about a pressing need for clean energy solutions while increasing their awareness of solar's growing presence around the world."

"We are delighted to be a part of this initiative," said Anna Sidana, founder of One Million Lights. "One Million Students employs a creative approach to education and addresses the critical issue for renewable energy solutions in our lives. This program enables us to bring our global solar light programs full circle by sharing our experiences and knowledge with children here in the States."

Teachers and students interested in registering their school for One Million Students or learning more about the program are encouraged to visit http://onemillionstudents.org/act-now/.

About One Million Lights
One Million Lights is a registered nonprofit with a mission to improve the daily lives of children and adults by providing clean and healthy solar lighting. Its goal is to distribute one million solar lights and replace dangerous and polluting kerosene lamps.

One Million Lights provides clean, safe, affordable solar lighting to rural communities around the world through its international distribution programs, made possible by partnerships and donations. These solar lights enable children to study at night and adults to extend their workday, all while eliminating carbon emissions, improving household health, and greatly increasing income savings.

For more information on One Million Lights, please visit www.onemillionlights.org, www.facebook.com/onemillionlights and http://twitter.com/#!/millionlights.

About SunPower Foundation
The SunPower Foundation is a nonprofit organization focused on empowering, inspiring and motivating a new generation of solar leaders in global communities. Established by SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) in 2008, the SunPower Foundation partners with key nonprofit agencies to develop and distribute education tools that support community-based solar power initiatives around the world. For more information, please visit the SunPower Foundation website at www.sunpower.org.

SOURCE SunPower Corp.