Gilman cuts ribbon on school solar project
School officials, community members and project partners gathered on Tuesday for the formal ribbon cutting and dedication of a recently completed solar energy project at Gilman Schools.
In partnership with CESA 10, Solar Connections, Excel Energy and the Solar for Schools program, Gilman installed a 124.2 kw solar system consisting of 272 solar panels.
According to Gilman District Administrator Walter Leipart, the project has been several years in the making and will reap long-term benefits for the Gilman School District.
The district uses 481,623 kWh of electricity. The new system will produce 157,000 kWh per years, equalling and offset of 33% of the district’s energy costs.
On an environmental level, the energy savings from the solar project is equivalent to planting 76,711 trees, driving 7,224,966 fewer miles, or conserving 3,196,309 pounds of coal.
From a financial standpoint, the district will see about a $20,000 annual savings in energy costs. The savings will go into the district’s Fund 46 long-term maintenance account and used for future facility and maintenance needs and projects in the district.
The district received $120,000 in grants, incentives and rebates for the project and contributed $152,000 from Fund 46, the money set aside for capital projects. “No general operation dollars were spent to compete the project,” Leipart said.
He said the return on investment for the district is 7.6 years and with the life expectancy of the system being 40 years, the long-term saving over the lifetime of system will be $443,000.
Leipart said the project is an example of the district and school board working to make long-term savings and reduce expenses for taxpayers. With the district heading into another referendum cycle, he said it is important that taxpayer know the school is doing what it can to keep costs contained.
In addition to being a cost savings longterm for the district, the system will also bring the benefit of being an educational resource with students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs as well as lessons in sustainability. He said students will be able to track data on energy the system produces and learn more about energy projects.
The solar array is located near the student parking lot area on what was previously the school’s tennis courts. The tennis courts have not been used for many years and were in disrepair to the point that the school was either going to have to invest in tearing them out or replacing them. The solar presented the opportunity to repurpose this area of the school grounds.
