Tunkhannock Area SD schedules September vote on proposed $10 million solar project

Superintendent Paul Doherty said the Tunkhannock Area School District will likely vote in September on whether to install a proposed solar array that district staff estimate could cost about $10 million.

Doherty said the district has been awarded a $1,200,000 state grant and is watching whether a federal direct-payment incentive — described in the meeting as covering roughly 45% of installation costs if it remains available — will be offered. He said if both funding sources are in place, the district could see about $5,700,000 of the project’s cost covered.

Doherty said the project would protect the district against future energy-price increases and could save “millions and millions of dollars” in the long run. He told the board the expected September vote will likely hinge on whether the federal direct-payment incentive remains available.

Board members asked that financial details be available to them before any formal vote. One board member said they wanted everyone to “understand the solar finances before they walk into a vote,” and Doherty agreed to provide or review the numbers with the board in advance.

At the meeting the board did not take a formal vote on the solar project; the superintendent characterized it as “the biggest savings project” in his time on the board and said the decision would depend on external funding.

The board discussed whether a separate committee meeting would be required to review the financing; members said they did not require an extra meeting as long as they received the full numbers in advance. The board expects the item to return for formal action at its September meeting.