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School committee approves solar purchases and geothermal plan for high school
Summary
The Northampton School Committee voted Nov. 13 to allow three city-led energy projects: a district-owned 180 kW PV array for Rhine Road Elementary, a vendor-owned solar parking canopy at Jackson Street under a 25-year PPA, and a geothermal retrofit at Northampton High School. Officials cited federal tax credits and projected lifecycle savings.
The Northampton School Committee on Nov. 13 approved three energy projects that the city says will reduce utility costs and cut building emissions.
Climate Action Projects Administration Director Ben Weil told the committee the simplest project is a 180‑kilowatt photovoltaic array proposed for Rhine Road Elementary, to be purchased using the city’s Climate Stabilization Fund. Weil said the array is expected to exceed the school’s annual use, generating roughly $63,000 in net credits a year that can be virtual‑net‑metered to other district accounts.
A second project would place a solar parking canopy at Jackson Street Elementary under a power‑purchase agreement (PPA). Weil said the vendor would own and maintain that canopy; the district would pay for the electricity produced at a rate Weil described as lower than current utility costs. He estimated about $13,000 in annual savings and about $1 million over…
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