Martin Public School officials plan to be 99% powered by solar energy in the next two years.

The Martin Board of Education, at its Sept. 19 meeting, voted to negotiate a contract with Superior Renewable Solutions to install solar panels and systems in school buildings.

Superintendent David Harnish told the school board that the move would be forward looking, good for the environment and makes economic sense in the long run.

“We’re not the only school in the United States to do it, but we’d be the first school in the State of Michigan to accomplish this,” he said in a story published in the Allegan County News & Gazette. “And that’s 600 kilowatts that aren’t being used from coal, oil or natural gas or any other source, and we’re environmentally responsible. That would be a good thing.

“If energy costs go up and there’s a savings for our district, then that’s good for our kids and good for our taxpayers.”

Consumers Energy has estimated a 4% annual increases in price, so saving money is a very real possibility, perhaps as much as $2.3 million over 20 years.

The district would sign an energy service agreement, locking in a fixed annual price for 20 years from Superior Renewable Solutions. Harnish said that cost should be lower than what it now pays Consumers Energy, between $6,500 and $8,500 per month.

Board of Education Treasurer Vince Tuinstra first informed Harnish and the board about the possibility. The company is building a slightly smaller system for his greenhouse this fall under the same arrangement. It was proposed to him by 2004 Martin High School graduate Zack Henderson, who is regional vice president for Superior Renewable Solutions.

Tuinstra said it wasn’t long before he asked Henderson, “How can we do this for the school?”

“It pays for itself and, after 20 years, it’s ours,” Tuinstra said.

Superior Renewal Solutions would finance construction, operation and maintenance of the solar panel system over the life of the contract.

Superior Renewal Systems President Christopher Yurko said Martin would pay only its contract price, regardless of how the panels performed. If the schools wound up drawing a large amount from the power grid, the company would “true-up,” or pay the balance of the district’s electric bill at the end of the year.

But Yurko said he believes the proposed 38,000-square-foot panels will generate enough power to meet the district’s needs. Because of “net metering,” when panels make more energy than the district needs, that power would be added to the grid and earn credit from Consumers Energy. The credits and drawing on the panels should account for 99% of the district’s electric use over yearly averages.

The light panels, which will be installed on the district’s roof, will be weighed down, not bolted to the roof, so they should not affect any school roof replacement plans through the bond project that was approved earlier this year by local voters.

Yurko said the company also will handle maintenance and handle snow removal, if necessary. The panels are built to withstand violent weather such as hail.

Superior Renewable Solutions finances the project, taking advantage of tax credits to build the approximately $1.5 million system, and the district’s payments will end after 20 years, and then it will own the solar panels, which will be under warranty for 25 years.

Harnish said the district can expect to spend the three months negotiating the contract with Superior Renewable Solutions. The school board last week authorized paying $5,000 for soft costs to develop the project, which will be deducted from what the district ultimately would pay in the contract.

Construction would not begin until next year at the earliest.