The Wayland Board of Education Monday night entertained a proposal from a solar energy company to “go green” and save money.
Patrick Poer and Kelly Hipskind, co-founders of SunfundED of Indianapolis, Ind., is proposing the district sign on to a 25-year agreement, promising a savings of nearly $7 million in energy costs during the duration of the project.
The two reps proudly said they have completed such a program for neighboring Otsego Public Schools and have received rave reviews from Superintendent Jeff Haas and other officials, purporting to save the district $5.3 million.
Closer to home, Martin Public Schools installed solar panels on all roofs in the district two years ago with a lease-to-purchase agreement between the district and Verde Solutions of Chicago. This means the district will swap its current electric bill for a monthly lease payment on the solar panels.
The total electric bill for Martin was about $30,500 annually and the new monthly payment will be about $2,800 for 15 years or $33,300 annually. With the 5% annual increase in electric costs, the power bill will exceed lease payments in the third year.
Poer told the school board, “The schools get the savings at little or no risk,” through execution of a service agreement.
Hipskind explained, “You own the power, but we provide the service” at a flat fixed fee of 3.5%.
He said SunfundED would like to begin work on the project next spring and have it completed by the end of next year.
Hipskind said SunfundED has worked with 40 schools, mostly in Indiana and Michigan, saving them an estimated combined $15 billion.
He acknowledged the project may have political, development and regulatory risks, but they are minimal. He stressed there are no health of environmental risks.
“We are the only (energy) company in Michigan that’s with you from beginning to end (of the project),” Poer added. “This is the least risky way to go solar.”
Trustee Pete Zondervan said he worries about West Michigan climate that is notorious for lack of sun and “lake effect” snow.
He was told the company already has made plans for that potential problem because it would affect Otsego as well.
The school board will talk about the proposal further in its work session Monday evening, Nov. 23.
COVER PHOTO: Otsego’s solar project with SunfundED now is under way.