TAYLOR, Mich. — As approved by a unanimous vote by the Board of Education in July, Taylor School District will acquire solar school bus stop lights through the National Adopt-A-Watt program.

It is projected that 50 new solar lights will be installed at school bus stops in Taylor through sponsorships that will cover the total cost. Revenue raised in excess of the cost of the lights will be divided evenly between the school district and city.

Under the program, the excess funds can be used for any purpose that reduces fossil fuel consumption and operating costs. Projects under consideration include the purchase of new plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles for the city, cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel for school buses and large-scale solar electric systems for school buildings.

Adopt-A-Watt is a Royal Oak, Mich.-based company that recruits corporate sponsors to pay a fee for solar panels or solar lights. The panels or lights are erected with signs listing the names of sponsors. The bus stop lights in Taylor represent the company’s first school bus stop project.

With sponsorship bids of $2,000, Adopt-A-Watt projects that net revenue for the city and school system over 20 years with the 50 lights would amount to $1,454,000.

Modeled after the Adopt-A-Highway acknowledgment program, the Adopt-A-Watt Program gives sponsors community recognition for funding clean energy, alternative fuel and energy-efficiency projects. The program arranges and coordinates all sponsorship, financing, installation and ongoing maintenance for sponsorable photo-voltaic displays (SPVD).

Sponsorship of SPVDs is arranged via a virtual auction process at the National Adopt-A-Watt Website, www.adopt-a-watt.com.