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While many Isle of Wight County residents might understandably balk at the idea of rows and rows of solar panels within view of the homes or farms, we hope they’ll agree that setting up such equipment atop or aside schools can be an attractive concept.

As reported last week, the school division and Sigora Solar marked its partnership in a virtual ceremony earlier this month. The sun-powered systems will be established at seven schools including Carrsville Elementary, Windsor Elementary, Georgie D. Tyler Middle School and Windsor High School.

The construction work has already begun and is expected to be done by this autumn.

What’s even more heart-warming is that the agreement is anticipated to save the IWCS division about $3 million-plus in the 20-year lifespan of the project.

We also see educational and even career opportunities for the students. Science and business teachers, for example, can point above their heads to explain how the array works, and what skills could be learned to become involved in other future solar projects.

We commend the school division for this forward thinking, and hope that other neighboring school systems will be inspired to research feasibility for themselves.