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Tecumseh board approves 20-year solar power purchase agreement for two schools
Summary
The board voted to authorize Energy Products of Madison Heights to develop a 20-year design-build power purchase agreement for Tecumseh High School and Tecumseh Middle School; the contract includes equipment, roof replacement where needed and a minimum 20-year warranty and is contingent on federal/state grant funding.
The Tecumseh Public Schools Board of Education approved a motion to proceed with a 20-year design-and-build solar power purchase agreement (PPA) for Tecumseh High School and Tecumseh Middle School.
The action, moved by Trustee Brooks and seconded by Trustee Simpson, authorizes Energy Products of Madison Heights, Michigan, to develop the PPA, supply and install solar equipment, replace roofs where equipment will be mounted, and secure all required permits and approvals, including coordination with local utilities and the Michigan Public Service Commission. The motion requires the vendor to provide a minimum 20-year warranty on roofs and supplied equipment.
The board emphasized the project is structured to avoid the use of sinking-fund dollars for the installations. During discussion, Director of Operations Josh Madsen and trustees said rolling roof replacements into the solar project will reduce near-term capital outlays from the district’s capital plan. Trustees also said the company will monitor panel performance and carry out ongoing maintenance under the proposed contract.
Board members and staff discussed financing contingencies and grant dependencies. Superintendent Hilton and other board members noted the project team is pursuing federal and state incentives, including USDA and other grant programs, and that the district intends to begin grant applications promptly. If grant awards or program incentives are not secured before work begins, the district said the project would be paused and returned to the board for further direction.
The board took a roll-call vote: Trustee Brooks — aye; Trustee Simpson — aye; Trustee Miller — aye; Trustee McGee — aye; Chair (President) Lewis — aye. The motion carried.
The district plans to finalize grant filings and performance-bond requirements before construction. Staff said performance bonds required by Michigan law will be set based on final grant arrangements and project scope.
What happens next: project development will proceed through the design and grant-application stages; construction timing and definitive financing terms will be brought to the board as grants and agreements are finalized.
