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Waterbury Board approves project manuals for rooftop solar at five schools after warranty, output questions
Summary
The Waterbury Board of Education approved project manuals and state review requests for rooftop solar photovoltaic projects at five schools. Board members and consultants discussed roof warranties, who would repair leaks after installation, expected revenue and ground-mounted alternatives.
The Waterbury Board of Education on a series of voice votes approved project manuals and requests for state review to advance rooftop solar photovoltaic projects at Wendell L. Cross Elementary School, Generali Elementary School, Sprague Elementary School, B.W. Tinker Elementary School and Westside Middle School.
Board approval authorizes the chair and Superintendent to sign state form SCG-042 and submit each project manual to the Connecticut DAS Office of Grants Administration for review prior to releasing the projects to market.
The board debated technical and contract questions during discussion of the Wendell L. Cross project, where commissioners pressed staff and the district's consultant about warranty coverage and long-term maintenance. Commissioner Serrano Adorno asked how installing panels would affect roof warranties; district staff responded that the district had chosen a 30-year product warranty for the new roofs and that the state Department of Administrative Services (DAS) funded both the roof replacements and the solar panels. Nick Albini, staff member, told the board, "our roofs, we, opted for the 30 year warranty." Albini added that the contractor warranty is two years and that the 30-year product warranty began at the end of summer 2024.
Board members also asked who would be responsible if a roof leaked after panels were installed. Albini replied, "The the installer of the solar panels." The board heard that because DAS funded the new roofs, DAS would not have approved solar installations on older roofs.
Rob Cleve, of Cleve Sustainability, the district's solar consultant, said the new roofs made rooftop installations a standard industry practice but that some sites are too tight for ground arrays without using playgrounds or other school space. He said the consultant team would work with the superintendent and staff to evaluate ground-mounted or parking-carport options where feasible. Cleve also answered a question about energy output and utility credits, saying, "For the 5 school projects, we project that you're gonna, generate about $230,000 a year in revenue over 20 years." He added none of the five projects, as currently sized, would fully cover each school's electricity use, leaving room for additional solar at other locations in the future.
Commissioners also raised practical concerns such as vandalism risk for ground-mounted arrays and potential vehicle strikes if panels were sited over parking areas. The district said the projects are not expected to start for roughly a year while remaining roof closeouts and administrative approvals are completed.
Votes at a glance - Wendell L. Cross Elementary School rooftop solar (Project No. 1551-0310PV): motion to approve project manual and submit SCG-042 to DAS; moved by Commissioner Anthony Ireland; approved by voice vote; exact tally not specified; outcome: approved. - Generali Elementary School rooftop solar (Project No. 151-0311PV): moved by Commissioner Anthony Ireland; approved by voice vote; exact tally not specified; outcome: approved. - Sprague Elementary School rooftop solar (Project No. 151-0312PV): moved by Commissioner Anthony Ireland; approved by voice vote; exact tally not specified; outcome: approved. - B.W. Tinker Elementary School rooftop solar (Project No. 151-0310PV): moved by Commissioner Anthony Ireland; approved by voice vote; exact tally not specified; outcome: approved. - Westside Middle School rooftop solar (Project No. 151-0314PV): moved by Commissioner Anthony Ireland; approved by voice vote; exact tally not specified; outcome: approved.
Context and next steps District staff said DAS funded both the roof replacements and the photovoltaic panels and would not approve panels on older roofs. The district is completing closeouts for recent construction and roof work at several schools before the solar contracts proceed. Staff estimated the five projects will begin roughly a year from now, contingent on DAS final approvals and administrative closeouts.
The board's approvals send project manuals to the Connecticut DAS Office of Grants Administration for review and eventual release to market; the superintendent and board chair were authorized to sign the state form SCG-042 required for that review. The district's consultant said the first five projects are sized for cost savings and revenue generation rather than full onsite energy self-sufficiency; additional sites could be considered later.
