BOE approves solar project

SPARTA — The Board of Education voted Monday to join a nearly two-year-old county wide solar project which will provide low-cost energy to the district through solar installations on school buildings. Installation and maintenance of the solar panels will cost the district nothing and there will be no cost to taxpayers. The project is already underway in various locations around Sussex County.
At the board meeting this week, Joe Santaiti, a consultant for Global Associates and Sunlight General Capital, made a presentation detailing the kinds of solar collectors that would be installed and explained the percent of energy consumption that would be displaced by the solar power.
They studied all five district buildings to determine if the locations and the condition of the buildings were conducive to solar installations. Santaiti said only Mohawk Avenue School was not recommended.
Three types of solar panels are recommended for the other four buildings, Santaiti said. These are roof panels, ground mounted panels, and carport or canopy panels, which would be installed over parking areas.
For Sparta Middle School, all three types of panels are recommended and together these would be a 425 kilowatt system size and would provide 36 percent of the building's energy. Alpine School would have both roof and carport panels for a 350 (kw) system size that would provide 86 percent of the school's energy.
Both Sparta High School and the Helen Morgan School would have only roof panels. Santaiti said Helen Morgan would have an 85 (kw) system that can provide 50 percent of the building's energy. The high school would have a 450 (kw) system, but it would provide only 12 percent of the building's power.
The total kilowatt system for the district is 1,310 and would offset 46 percent of the district's energy consumption through solar power.
Santaiti explained the system has a 15 year life, so there would be a 15 year power purchase agreement between the district and Sunlight General Capital, the developers. They would install, maintain, and insure the equipment at no cost to the district and then sell the district energy at a discounted rate. The district is guaranteed $1,344,974 in energy savings over the 15 years. At the end of the contract, the district can choose to have the equipment removed, or enter into another agreement with new equipment.
Sussex County is sponsoring the solar project along with the Morris County Improvement Authority, who is selling the bonds for the developers at municipal rates which are more favorable than commercial rates. The developer can then sell solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) for profit. The program provides advantages to the municipalities and school districts who agree to host the solar equipment because they can reap the benefits of lower cost solar energy with a zero investment.
There is also an educational component. The developer has agreed to provide educational kiosks with solar energy information in the schools and a web-based program that will allow students to track consumption and savings.
Sparta's solar installation must first be approved by the Planning Board, after which work can begin on the project immediately. Similar projects at Kittatiny Regional High School and the Merriam Avenue School in Newton are nearing completion. Both Sussex County Community College and the County College of Morris are currently undergoing major canopy solar panel installations over their parking lots.