District’s Solar Power Plans Mean Savings, Educational Opportunities

The Nanuet Board of Education is moving forward with plans to install solar arrays on the district’s four school buildings. Earlier this month, the board approved a proposal from Solar Energy Systems of Brooklyn for solar arrays that will produce 200 kilowatts of power. The build-out of the four solar arrays is expected to begin in late fall with completion possible in early 2014. 

The solar project will benefit Nanuet’s taxpayers in several ways. The installation does not cost the district any money and will reduce its utility bill, produce clean electricity and provide a learning environment for students.

The solar panels will absorb sunlight, which the system converts into electricity that will offset the buildings’ utility bills.  The solar systems are expected to produce about 15 percent of each building's electricity, which will help offset electricity usage and costs. A total of about 800 panels will be installed on the four roofs and each system will produce close to 50kW. 

“The best part of this deal is that Nanuet’s taxpayers don’t have to pay for it”, explained Assistant Superintendent for Business Phil Sions.  “We are entering into a 15-year lease agreement, which requires a $0 cash outlay, and locks in a low rate for electricity.” 

Sions said the first year’s savings should amount to approximately $3,560 and as the cost of power goes up the district will realize more savings.  District spokeswoman Kathleen Maier said Solar Energy Systems provided a lower price per kilowatt-hour than the one other bidder and also offered better financing terms over a 15-year lease versus a 20-year lease.  She said the approved contact included a no escalator provision, which means that the price will not change each year of the lease.   

She said, “A benefit of the 15 year term versus the 20 year term is that after any lease expires you have the option to purchase the system for a dramatically reduced price, and owning the system five years earlier means five more years of "free power."

Additionally, the district will realize educational and environmental benefits.  Multiple grade levels will study the solar arrays in science labs.  Lessons in technology and sustainability can be incorporated into the classroom using the live data provided by the solar array’s data logging system. 

“And, of course there is an environmental benefit to using our own rooftops to generate clean electricity”, Sions noted.  “According to the EPA website, this sized solar array offsets 160 tons of carbon annually, which translates to 19 cars taken off the road for one year, or 4,700 trees cleansing the air for one year; those are powerful statistics”. 

After the 15-year lease term expires, Sions said the district has the option to either have the panels removed or purchase them and continue using them. The solar panels carry warrantees for 25 years and are rated to perform at 90% output in their 10th year and still produce at 80% efficiency at year 25. 

According to Sions that option translates to, “free power for the district down the road, as well as the immediate savings that will be realized by offsetting the current electric costs.” 

Nanuet is not the only entity looking taking advantage of solar power. The Town of Clarkstown is scheduled to begin installing a solar array at the closed town landfill in West Nyack this fall.