Interest in new state solar program lights up among school districts |
On Board Online • April 27, 2015
By Eric D. Randall
Editor-in-Chief
More than 250 school districts have registered an interest in adding solar power through a state program known as K-Solar.
As early as the end of the month, the state is expected to name regional companies that will install solar panels for districts and BOCES with no upfront costs.
Participating districts will sign a 20-year contract with their installer in which they agree to buy the electricity generated by the solar power system, which will remain the property of the installer until the contract expires. The company will be required to operate and maintain the system.
To determine whether solar energy makes economic sense for specific schools, registered districts are taking advantage of free site assessments and analysis by the New York Power Authority (NYPA), which co-sponsors the program with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Some districts have experience with solar power. The Somers Central School District in Westchester County installed a 50-killowatt solar system at its high school in 2011 with assistance from NYSERDA. The project was funded with federal fiscal stimulus money. It has generated more than 200,000 kilowatt hours of electricity - enough to power the average home in New York State for 28 years.
The State Education Department also supports the program, which includes solar technology curriculums developed by NYSERDA. The state will also provide free training for K-12 teachers.
"We're very excited about the potential of K-Solar, and judging by the initial response, school districts are too," said Gil Quiniones, NYPA president and chief executive officer. "It's rare to have a program that not only makes sense from a fiscal standpoint but also has a valuable educational component."
K-Solar is part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's NY-Sun initiative, which promotes the use of solar power.
On March 18, officials from NYPA and NYSERDA participated in a NYSSBA webinar on the K-Solar program. They provided detailed information on how the program works and its potential benefits. To view the presentation, go to http://goo.gl/a1dO75.
To watch a three-minute video about K-Solar, go to http://goo.gl/rKJPLN.