School Districts can not afford to sit back and let other schools come in and grab up the various funding grants and money earmarked to do sustainable energy school projects. Most school districts will be feeling the pressure of the economy and financial deficits in the next few years, if they are not already. Layoff, cutbacks , and compromised benefits will become the standards as money becomes harder to come by. Particularly in the state of MA , Governor Patrick is making dramatic cuts in the 2110-2111 budget to just get the equation to close.

Rising Electricity cost

Electricity costs have gone up three   fold since 2000 and are expected to rise by 12- 15 % in 2009, maybe more with the House passage of the Obama cap and trade program. MA will be particularly hard hit as most of our electricity is generated by dirty coal-the utility companies will pass those costs to its customers. 

Lighting accounts for 20—25% of school districts electricity costs. Energy saving alternatives has to do with the location of the schools, its orientation, building forms, and how the building is shaded and ventilated. Tackling these issues of green energy in your school could save your school substantial money and potentially jobs . Energy Star reports that is costs $16B a year for the energy to run American schools K-12. That’s more money than spent on textbooks and computers combined.    

Commonwealth Wind Incentive Program

The objective  of the Commonwealth Wind Incentive Program is to support responsibly sited wind energy projects of all scales in achieving successful and functional installations, while also achieving MA Governor Patrick’s objective l of having 2,000 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity installed in the Commonwealth by 2020. The Commonwealth Wind Incentive Program (CommWind) provides rebate, grant, and loan funding for the installation of wind projects in Massachusetts.

Spirit Lake School Wind turbine

Over seven years ago the elementary school installed a 250  kw turbine , providing the school with $20,000-$25,000 yearly in energy costs. To date the school as netted $165K in saving which have gone directly into the school budget.

The elementary school turbine was so successful, that the district installed a new 750 KW turbine, which provides over six times as much electricity as the first turbine. The new turbine is utility connected, supplies the high school, middle school, school administration building and them some. The regional utility company pays the school district for the excess generated. The turbine paid for itself in seven years. They now have $140,000 generated in addition to what the first turbine generated.

Jimmy Peak’s  1.5 MW Wind Turbine ,  (went live August 2007) with $600k provided from the state .  The turbine saves the ski resort $400,000 a year in electricity and makes another $250,000. selling that  energy back to the grid. The turbine will be paid off in 7 years. 

The Money is going fast

At least 140 of MA school districts have already submitted their applications and feasibility studies to begin the work to get sustainable energy incorporated into their various school buildings.  The TARP funds are getting distributed to schools quicker than most anticipated, that money will not be there forever. We suggest you find someone to put a plan together for your unique school needs and start to execute on the plan before you lose the opportunity to lower your school electricity costs for the next 25 years, based upon the grant funding available today.  Easily over a 20 year period the average high school could save $1.5 M versus doing nothing and spending that much.

Image via Wikipedia