Thursday December 21, 2006

Solar is good for our schools

by Marie Domenici*

As chairwoman of the Southold Town Renewable Energy Committee, I would like to share a solar success story regarding the Carle Place School District in Nassau County. The district has invested in its future by installing several photovoltaic solar systems and, as a result, Carle Place is reaping a derived benefit of a monthly buyback from LIPA.

Carle Place spent $460,000 on a 50,000-kWh photovoltaic system. The district received a $235,000 rebate from LIPA. It will take the district seven years to break even. LIPA will now buy back electricity to the tune of $1,500 per month, as the system produces more energy than the district uses.

What’s so exciting about these numbers? No out-of-pocket to the school district. Why? Because the way the financing is executed, a percentage of the buyback from LIPA pays for the system while the remaining money goes back into the school district’s budget to defray the cost of doing business. Note: LIPA is currently rebating $4.75 per kWh to schools and nonprofits until the end of 2006. The rebates are rapidly diminishing, time is money!

It should be noted that the cost of electricity is factored into every school district’s operating budget. Therefore, when a school installs solar, it’s like found money in the budget; installing solar is a win-win for the district and its taxpayers.

Currently, there are more than five school districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties that are in various stages of installing solar. The savings on the cost of electricity for these districts can be used to create new programs and/or employ new staff, while using the solar system teaches students about the benefits of investing in renewable energy resources and environmental responsibility.

The benefits for school districts installing solar are: environmental — it will eliminate harmful emissions produced by fossil fuels; educational — teaching the next generation of students social and environmental responsibility; cost saving — school districts are spending in excess of $280,000 a year on electricity. This is a huge opportunity to alleviate the heavy burden on the taxpayers while focusing on education, not administration. The average solar unit can produce energy for 20 to 30 years, with low operating costs.

So who would be opposed to investing in solar? Remember, sunshine is free! Go solar!

*Marie Domenici is the chairwoman of the Southold Town Alternative and Renewable Energy Committee.