A school district gave its teachers pay raises of as much as 30%. Students and teachers will be helped in these times by the purchase of new heating and ventilation systems. The improvements were paid for by the Sun and didn't cost taxpayers a dime.
As solar energy gains traction across the country, schools have become one of the beneficiaries.
The data was released by Generation180, a nonprofit that promotes and tracks clean energy. In 2015, there were twice as many as there are today.
The savings in electric bills from schools with solar panels often topped millions in each district, and many have been able to adopt the technology without having to pay upfront.
"If you're conservative, we didn't ask you for more taxes, if you're liberal, you love the green concept." It's a win-WIN.
In Heart-Butte, Mont., the school superintendent arranged for three-quarters of the energy credits generated by the district's new solar panels to help lower the electric bills of households in the community He thought freeing up money for things like groceries and shoes could have a positive effect on the classroom.
It might help a family feel better about themselves and children feel better about themselves. They will be ready to learn when they come to school because of the extra hope we have.
In Louisa County, Virginia, school administrators used federal Covid recovery and local funds to place 32 solar-generated mobile wi-fi stations throughout the community, helping to connect families and the roughly 40% of students who didn't have reliable internet access. The district's director of technology said that high school students built the trailers.
The solar systems installed at its schools were expected to save the Louisa district up to $8 million over three decades, but the spike in energy costs meant they ended up saving $4,000 in the first six months. The plan was to add new programs and enhance existing ones in order to put the savings into classrooms.
In Wise County in southwest Virginia, where solar energy is expected to save the school district $7.5 million over 35 years, the project paid for solar apprenticeships that officials said were sorely needed. 10 high school students helped with the installation while earning $17 an hour plus stipends over eight weeks, with credits towards becoming a solar and electrical technician.
Greg Mullins, who retired as schools Supt there, said that they have been trying to change their economy. This will allow them to make and install solar panels and possibly earn a living somewhere in this part of the world.
The ice is melting The study found that the melting of the ice sheet could raise global sea levels by at least 10 inches. The study used a different measure to measure ice loss that takes into account the warming that has already happened.
According to the White House, the second biggest expense for public K-12 schools is energy. Federal funding for school energy upgrades in the infrastructure bill, along with incentives to adopt solar in recently passed climate legislation, is forecast to offset those costs while also benefiting the environment.
The equivalent of shutting down 16 coal-fired power plants would be achieved if all of the 130,000 K-12 schools transitioned to solar. The nonprofit found that the collective solar capacity of schools had tripled in the last eight years. Half of the public schools that have solar panels are eligible for Title 1 funding, which means at least 40 percent of their students are low income.
The ability to go solar for most schools depends on local policies. The solar companies pay for the solar systems up front. Schools usually buy electricity at reduced rates in return for housing the system, and can use the savings for classroom or facility upkeep. The agreements have been used to pay for nearly 90 percent of the total solar capacity at schools.
There are still road blocks. Because consumers who can generate their own electricity buy less power from the grid, some utilities want to charge rooftop solar owners fees that can be used to offset their savings, or credit them for less than the retail cost for the energy their panels produce. The public utilities commission is considering a proposal that would cut incentives for homeowners to install solar panels.
Michael Craig is an assistant professor at the University of Michigan and he said that there is no national state of play.
When Anthony Smith's company received cease and desist letters from a local utility, he was working on a solar system using a third party agreement. He has been lobbying for legislation that encourages solar adoption. He said that they are also in the solar policy business.
According to Generation180, the number of states that allow third party ownership is increasing. The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have recently been added. The Inflation Reduction Act will allow more schools to purchase their systems with a credit that covers 30 percent of the cost.
When the district first considered solar panels, the project was met with resistance from the school board, according to Doug Arnold, who oversees facilities upgrade and major projects for Orange County Public Schools in Virginia. The project was approved by the board after Virginia passed solar legislation.
The solar panels installed at seven schools would save them about $130,000 a year and over $9 million over the course of 35 years.
There is no interest in raising taxes here and the tax base is low.
The first school district in Arkansas to go solar was the Batesville school district. Walmart, which is based there, supported the bill.
The savings from solar were initially thought to be $2 million over two decades, but rising energy costs have increased that figure to at least twofold. International attention was given to the spike in teacher pay. Mr. Hester said that the district was able to attract teachers despite a statewide shortage by increasing their base pay.
The area has about 30 other school districts that have adopted solar.
Tish Tablan is the program director at Generation180. She said that when schools go solar, students learn about it, they talk to parents, and families are inspired.
She said it was important for schools to be self-sufficient and resilient because they often serve as community hubs. The school district in Santa Barbara County, Calif., began installing solar installations and microgrids in the wake of the deadly mudslides in the area. Laura Capps, a school board member, said that 94 percent of the district's energy will come from renewable sources once the project is complete.
The school district in New Jersey lost over two million dollars in state funding over the course of seven years. Between 80 and 90 percent of the energy needs of school buildings will be covered by the retrofit of lighting and solar installations, which will be paid for with bonds.
The school curriculum will be benefited by the solar panels. Climate change will be taught in public schools in New Jersey. The new solar array will be used to teach. He said it was a great way to teach students not just how solar energy helps the Earth and the environment, but also how it can benefit consumers directly.
The school district put up solar canopies over the loading zones at the junior and senior high schools in order to draw attention to them. They are large and provide shelter from the rain and sun, and may be the closest thing to an international airport in the area.
After the canopies went up, carloads of people, many of them decades past their high school days, began coming by during off-hours and weekends to take pictures. Mr. Hester said that it had gone insane.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
