Solar array would be a leader in state

Grant would pay for 5,700 panels; $1.7M in savings is estimated

By Tim O'Brien

Published 9:43 pm, Thursday, August 29, 201

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Colonie

South Colonie schools are hoping to install the largest arrays of solar panels in any school district in New York State.

The Board of Education is seeking a grant to fund more than 5,700 solar panels to be spread across each of the district's eight schools and on its transportation department offices. If successful, it could save the district $1.7 million over the next 20 years and provide almost all its power.

"We're in a time when schools have lost a lot of different levels of funding," said SuperintendentJonathan Buhner. "We're looking at ways to control and reduce baseline costs. That's what this comes down to, having a Cadillac program in a Chevy body."

At a total of 1.7 megawatts, the system would be the largest for a school district in New York state, according to the New York Energy Research and Development Authority. The next largest is the 1.2 megawatt system in the Queensbury Union Free School District.

Buying the system retail and having it installed would cost more than $5 million, said Tim Carr, strategic accounts manager for Monolith.

Monolith will file the grant application to NYSERDA. If received, the grant would cover about a third of the costs.

NYSERDA has $4.8 million in incentives available each month under its Open Enrollment Photovoltaic Incentive program, part of a statewide program to encourage installing solar energy systems. Money is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Once money for a month is committed, additional proposals are put on a waiting list and are first to receive funding the next month.

The Rensselaer firm would install the system free of charge and would own and maintain it. It would then sell electricity back to the district. The firm also would recoup some of its costs through tax incentives.

"The way we're able to make it work is by selling the district power over the long term," Carr said.

He said he thinks the odds of getting the grant are strong.

"As long as funding is still available, I think there is a very good chance," he said. "Our understanding is all eligible projects will be funded."

At Colonie Central High School, a fenced-in ground system would power the lighting of the athletic field, press box and even the scoreboards.

Anyone entering the district's schools would see a monitor displaying real-time information on energy consumption.

The district also would turn the system into a teaching tool.

Students and teachers could check in daily on the schools' energy consumption. The four-year-old Monolith also employs a curriculum coordinator to help teachers prepare lesson plans.

"We would include that as part of our educational program," Buhner said.

If approved, the district plans to install the solar panels over the winter, with the system running by next spring or summer.

tobrien@timesunion.com • 518-454-5092 • @timobrient