The South Central School District is looking at a reduction in electric costs while rates are skyrocketing through the installation of solar fields at each of their buildings.
The board heard a proposal from AGE of Mt. Vernon at its meeting last week where the $2.1-million solar systems would be build by investors seeking the tax credits.
Superintendent Kerry Herdes says there would be no upfront cost to the school district but the potential for considerable cost savings.
“At that solar rate being down to 2-cents per kilowatt and we use somewhere around 1.1 million. The solar project that we are investigating will basically provide all the electricity we need for all three sites. So there is potential there to save a substantial amount of money.”
Under its current contract at 4.83-cents per kilowatt hour, the district would save more than half its cost of electricity. But when a new contract is entered next May, the rate is expected to jump to 10 to 12-cents per credit hour providing considerably more savings.
Under the proposal, the investors would own and maintain the solar systems for the first seven years. The school district would then have a chance to purchase the systems at a much discounted rate after seven years. The solar fields are expected to have at least a 25 year life.
The school board took the proposal under advisement, with a decision to be made at a future meeting.
