The next school building in town to have solar panels installed could be Bethel High, which is also looking at a proposed roof replacement project.
Renewable energy consultant Titan Energy is working with the town on a proposal to install 1,032 solar panels on the high school roof.
According to Titan Energy, the proposed 556.86-kilowatt-hour system would be able to generate 672,400 kilowatts of electrical power annually, which would cover a little more than a third of the total energy needs at Bethel High School.
Titan Energy estimated the system could generate energy savings of about $33,000 per year, if the town agrees to a behind-the-meter fixed power purchase agreement. In 20 years, the town could realize nearly $1 million in energy savings, according to Titan Energy.
The project would coincide with a proposed roof replacement on the main high school building, which is 26 years old, First Selectman Dan Carter said. The roof over the gymnasium, which was added during a renovation and expansion of the school building that was completed in 2008, is not as old.
“When we do the roof, we would like to follow up with the solar right away. What we’re attempting to do is get that all approved now so we can take advantage of some of the federal incentives that are going away,” Carter said.
Greenskies Clean Focus, a renewable energy developer based in North Haven, would install and maintain the solar panels if the project is approved.
Carter said town leaders are waiting on a contract proposal.
Meanwhile, the town still needs voter approval to move forward with the proposed roof replacement. That project’s expected cost is about $5.5 million and would likely be placed on the next budget referendum.
Carter said the town is expected to get a 47% state reimbursement on the cost of the roof project if it is completed.
But if voters don’t approve the roof replacement, the solar project won’t move forward.
“We’re almost looking at two pieces,” Carter said. “Doing solar on parts of the building that are not having the roof replaced and starting that next year. There’s an assumption that we’re going to get the roof replaced the following year. If none of that happens, let’s say we go and we try to put this plan together to do the roofs and that gets squashed, then the solar thing gets squashed.”
Titan Energy representatives shared details of the solar proposal with the Board of Selectmen at its July 29 meeting. The project would need to be on a “quick” timeline in order to qualify for the expiring federal renewable energy credits.
“As of next summer we either need to incur 5% of construction costs or start construction. And obviously, you guys plan on getting a new roof within the coming years, so our timeline would be quick. But I do think it is doable,” said Paige Dostie, renewable energy business development manager for Titan Energy, during the meeting.
The town previously installed solar panels on the roofs of Johnson and Rockwell elementary schools, as well as on the high school fieldhouse. In Ridgefield, leaders approved a similar project, installing a solar canopy over its high school parking lot.