Since its founding in 1988, Saint Louis BicycleWorks has provided more than 10,000 bikes to inner-city kids.

StraightUp Solar installed a 25 kilowatt solar electric system in mid-August on the organization’s new office space in Soulard. The solar electricity generated by the 104 solar panels will offset the burning of 30,000 pounds of coal each year.

The solar system will dramatically reduce the organization’s electric bills and will likely pay for itself within five or six years.