Solar energy is the most viable source of power for school districts and universities.
A grassroots campaign called Repower Our Schools was started by environmental groups for pushing school districts, colleges and universities in in the United States to go 100% solar.
Although two feasibility studies from the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center (NC CETC) suggest that it may not be fully possible to go 100%, the act would just save schools money.
Solar Energy in Schools (Source: Harvard University)
The present policy in the US, particularly in North Carolina however prohibits third party sales, but if these were to change in net metering, schools will be maximizing their savings going solar. For a typical 25-year lifecycle of solar array, it can potentially save 1,357 annual teacher salaries for Charlotte Mecklenberg and 414 for Durham Public Schools. It will save 9% of what they are paying now for electricity.
Solar Energy in Schools (Source: MIT)
The parents of students are also joining hands to push the said project and to educate the children about the future of our environment. The groups are now seeking support and petition for the said project on their Repower Our Schools website.
Solar Energy in Schools (Source: Stanford University)
According to the study, it’s not economically viable for educational institutions to purchase rooftop solar systems outright in any state. Rather, the projects can make financial sense for schools if they contract a company to install, own and operate the system and sell electricity to the school at a set rate.
Nationwide, the researchers project benefits stemming from an all-out push for solar installations on school buildings could be worth as much as $4 billion per year, if each ton of carbon released to the air is assumed to cost society $40 and the value of a statistical human life – in the way that regulators and economists calculate it – is pegged at $10 million. The estimated benefits capture the cost of premature deaths and other health impacts linked to air pollution from power plants.
