A series of six solar arrays on the campus of Proctor Academy represents one of the largest solar projects of its kind at a New England school. The 334-kilowatt project at the co-educational boarding and day school in Andover, New Hampshire, is valued at $1.1 million. Just in time for winter, the most recent installation was commissioned earlier this month at the school’s privately owned and operated ski area.
The sun provides power for music recording artists, dancers, actors, boat builders and hockey players at the school, in addition to a campus child care facility and a ski area. Including the campus and the town in general, Andover has one of the state’s highest per capita rates of solar power market penetration among its approximately 2,500 residents.
All of the projects were installed by ReVision Energy at no upfront cost to Proctor through a series of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). A PPA allows schools, non-profits and municipalities to buy “green” solar power from an investor at a lower cost than “brown” electricity from the utility grid. Proctor has a future option to purchase the arrays at a substantial discount.
Jack Ruderman, director of community Initiatives at ReVision Energy, says the company is actively seeking interested organizations to form future partnerships. “The PPA is a powerful and innovative tool that allows towns, schools and non-profit organizations to install state-of-the-art renewable energy systems at no upfront cost that will generate clean energy and produce cost savings for decades and decades.”
ReVision owns the rooftop array at the Wilkins Meeting House, the first installation which was completed in 2012. IGS Energy owns the other five installations, which were completed this year.
The first five projects are rooftop mounts, while the most recent project is a 107-kilowatt ground mount at the Proctor Ski Area. The 352-panel array spans 300 feet across and will power snowmaking operations as well as the general campus.
The six arrays will generate approximately 389,508 kilowatt hours of solar power each year and will offset approximately 25 percent of the school’s electric load. On an annual basis, the switch to solar power at the school is equivalent to avoiding carbon dioxide emissions from 625 barrels of oil. Alternative energy supplies 100 percent of the school’s electric load, since the institution has elected to pay a premium to ensure that all electricity purchased by Proctor originates from renewable energy sources.
Current Issue - May 2024