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Wayne County board approves energy audit-backed school upgrades
Summary
William Walden, a consultant who presented an investment-grade audit, told the Wayne County School Board the audit shows the district can fund building improvements from guaranteed energy savings and outside rebates.
William Walden, a consultant who presented an investment-grade audit, told the Wayne County School Board the audit shows the district can fund building improvements from guaranteed energy savings and outside rebates. "The results of the investment grade audit that we performed is we've, calculated value of a program of over 2.4, almost $2,500,000 in this program in savings over a 16 year period," Walden said.
The board approved a motion to proceed with the program after the presentation. The motion, made by board member Mister Staggs and seconded by Miss Brown, passed on a roll-call vote with six members voting yes and one member absent.
Why it matters: Walden told the board the plan includes about $1,663,000 in building improvements that would be self-funded through guaranteed utility savings and available rebates, including an estimated TVA rebate of $86,147. He said the program uses a 16-year financial term at 1.5% interest and that the package is cash-flow positive over the term, producing a projected net savings to the district by the end of the period.
Details from the presentation: Walden said the program guarantees a first-year savings figure (presented as roughly $150,000 in the audit) and includes engineering, measurement and verification, and a certified energy manager to oversee ongoing performance. He said lighting already in the district produced noticeable savings and that proposed work focuses on controls, weatherization, and targeted mechanical work; bus barns were excluded from the cash-flowing work because those specific improvements did not meet the program’s financial threshold.
Walden described additional program safeguards: post‑installation verification by TVA engineers and oversight by state reviewers. He said the state comptroller and the Tennessee Department of Education’s Energy Efficient Schools Initiative and its Technical Advisory Council have reviewed elements of the approach and that the district would receive checks for TVA rebates as part of the financing.
Board action and next steps: Dr. Anthony recommended advancing the program; Mister Staggs moved to approve proceeding and Miss Brown seconded. The board completed a roll-call vote (First District: yes; Second: yes; Third: yes; Fourth: yes; Fifth: absent; Sixth: yes; Seventh: yes). The board directed staff to proceed with the next administrative steps to finalize the project scope and financing.
