New Canaan Country School is furthering its commitment to environmental sustainability with a new partnership that will increase the school’s solar energy use from about 10% to about 50%, while saving the school nearly $27k in utility costs each year. The school has already been using solar power generated by a solar array atop the Stevens Upper School Building.
A 280kw solar system will be installed on the school’s new Athletics & Wellness Center over spring break this March. The school was awarded a Z Rec, Zero-emission Renewable Energy Credit, a tax credit for installing solar or other green energy technologies, but because the school is tax exempt it sought a partnership with PurePoint Energy and Soldel LLC. The school will essentially lease the roof space to PurePoint Energy and Soldel LLC, which is responsible for the purchase and maintenance of the solar array. Through a power purchase agreement (PPA), the school will buy back the energy at a very low market rate, which is about half of what had previously been paid in utility costs.
“Smaller generations of local electricity is the way of the future,” said Facilities Supervisor John Neill. “Everyone needs to do their part.”
The partnership was developed with support from Victor Catano, CFO, and through negotiations by trustee Heidi Locke-Simon.
“We are really fortunate that she has experience with purchasing solar for nonprofit organizations previously and was able to help bring this to fruition,” said Neill.