MONTEGO BAY, St James — DENHAM McIntyre, the principal of the Montego Bay-based Cornwall College says Phase One of the institution’s $17-million solarisation project, which is estimated to reduce the school’s electricity bill by roughly 75 per cent over the next two years, could begin by September.

“We have had persons from the PCJ (Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica ) coming to do an audit already, and they are going to assist us with the project in phases and so the possibility exists that Phase One may start within the next three months,” McIntyre said.

The project is being spearheaded by the school’s New York, Canada and South Florida Old Boys’ Chapters.

McIntyre told the Observer West following a groundbreaking ceremony for a $ 15-million sixth form block at the school recently, that Cornwall College pays roughly $6 million annually to the Jamaica Public Service for electricity.

He explained that the savings derived from the solar project will be diverted towards the re-tooling of the school’s industrial technology department.

“There is a dramatic shift of the student’s career path from the humanities and the arts to engineering. Sciences have always had a very strong interest but now we have a very stronger interest in engineering and the sciences, the humanities are actually being sidelined,” said McIntyre.

Located on Orange Street, Cornwall College, an all-boys institution, which has 1,400 students on roll, was founded in 1896.

The Old Boys’ Chapters have over the years provided considerable financial support to the school.