The Bedford School Committee voted to authorize the Superintendent to partner with the Town Manager to engage in negotiations with a solar provider as well as an energy storage provider for the school buildings at their September 24 meeting. Additionally, the School Committee voted 5-0 in favor of checking the fiscal viability of early replacement of roofs on three other Bedford schools so that solar panels can be installed during Phase II.
Taissir Alani, Town Facilities Manager, presented a comprehensive and detailed report.
He made the point that the solar company will take all responsibility for the solar panel purchase, installation, and maintenance in exchange for a revenue stream of about 6-7 cents per kilowatt-hour for the next 20 years. Since Bedford now pays about 12 cents per kilowatt-hour and the Town’s only responsibility will be to install new roofs, Alani projects that the Town will experience substantial financial savings as well as reduce the Town’s carbon footprint.
Members of the School Committee, two of whom already had solar panels on their residences, asked several questions that clarified both technical (e.g., what about snow?) and financial issues (e.g., do you get credit for giving power back to the grid?). Alani made it clear that the schools would never give energy back to the grid. The solar panels and storage batteries would lower the peak electric demand level, which determines the rates charged by Eversource.
Alani will make a second presentation to the Bedford Selectmen on October 7 in preparation for the Special Town Meeting on November 4. Town Meeting approval is required for contracts that run longer than three years.
Correction, October 3, 2019: The School Committee did not vote in favor of proceeding with solar panels on the Bedford High School roof (Phase I) but instead authorized Superintendent Sills to negotiate with the Town Manager to secure a solar provider as well as an energy storage provider for the school buildings.
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