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Lisbon, Clifton-Fine, Gouverneur and Heuvelton school districts signed up for state solar power program

Posted 9/8/14

K-Solar, a program giving New York schools a chance to take advantage of solar power, has drawn registrations from 40 school districts in the state including four districts in St. Lawrence County. …

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Lisbon, Clifton-Fine, Gouverneur and Heuvelton school districts signed up for state solar power program

Posted

K-Solar, a program giving New York schools a chance to take advantage of solar power, has drawn registrations from 40 school districts in the state including four districts in St. Lawrence County.

Lisbon Central School, Clifton Fine Central School, Gouverneur Central School and Heuvelton Central School districts in St. Lawrence County are among the districts hoping to lower their energy costs with clean sun power.

“We’re excited to have an opportunity to participate in the K-Solar Program,” said Gouverneur School District Superintendent Lauren F. French. “The program fits squarely with our priorities for economic electricity bills and clean air while sending an important message to our students on harnessing the use of the sun to generate carbon-free electricity.”

Under the program, the rollout of which was highlighted Thursday by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office, schools will be helped with the tools, technical expertise and access to financing to make solar a realistic and affordable option for K-12 schools.

K-Solar takes advantage of the dramatically reduced costs of solar installation, currently available incentives, and high volume pricing that can enable school districts to achieve substantial savings.

K-Solar is a joint effort of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), working with the New York State Education Department, and local school districts.

NYPA, as lead agency, plans to create one or several large purchasing pools to be marketed to solar installers and will conduct a competitive solar solicitation process on behalf of interested K-12 schools statewide. The objective is to get schools the best value and contract terms.

NYPA is offering every New York State school district free energy advisory services and expertise to collaborate with school personnel in determining if solar energy is suitable and cost-effective for their district. They will work with the districts and the solar industry to secure the most attractive solar financing.

These services will be free to schools, with the only costs, NYPA says, “being from the clean electricity generated from the installed solar panels.” There is no limit to the number of public school districts that can participate in the program.

NYPA has issued a request for qualifications from developers who would install solar panels on school buildings. The deadline for responding to the solicitation is Oct. 9. The solicitation can be seen on NYPA’s procurement webpage.

In late July, NYPA and the State Education Department sent letters to school superintendents to make them aware of the new program and how they can participate.

NYPA President and Chief Executive Officer Gil C. Quiniones said, “With the new K-Solar program, schools will have an expert partner, at no cost, to take full advantage of statewide assistance to make solar installations a reality for their districts.”

For more information on K-Solar, visit www.nypa.gov/K-Solar/.