Board to consider purchase of five electric buses and a Solar for Schools grant application
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Facilities staff recommended buying five Type C electric buses under a district electrification option (gross quote $1,909,697; estimated net $397,697 after rebates) and asked the board to authorize grant‑writing services and a resolution to apply for a state Solar for Schools rooftop grant to offset high school electricity costs; votes are scheduled next week or will be submitted on a rolling basis.
Unionville‑Chadds Ford School District facilities staff on Nov. 11 recommended two energy‑related items for board action: (1) purchase five Type C electric school buses under a district self‑electrification plan, and (2) submit a Solar for Schools grant application to install rooftop solar on Unionville High School.
On buses: administration recommended awarding a vendor quote for five Type C electric buses with a gross quote presented as $1,909,697 and, after available rebates and grants, an estimated net cost of $397,697 (about $80,000 per bus). The presenter noted the chosen vendor uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and described a 12‑year battery warranty; staff also cited better vehicle build quality compared with the district’s pilot buses. The board was told charging infrastructure and PECO interconnection work will follow the bus purchase; initial engineering estimates for secondary electrical work were presented in the ~$300,000 range, to be designed and bid after the bus award.
On solar: staff recommended contracting Practical Energy Solutions to prepare a Solar for Schools grant application (rolling application window Nov. 1–Jan. 31). The proposal described a ~470 kW rooftop system for Unionville High School with a total installed cost estimated at roughly $1,000,000. Staff said the district would be eligible for program support (about 30% of project cost) and could also claim IRA incentives and PECO rebates; staff estimated the system would offset about 25% of the building’s annual electric bill (~$71,000/year) and yield a multi‑year payback under their assumptions. Administration noted the grant requires district ownership of panels (not a PPA) and that township zoning is supportive of rooftop solar. Staff sought board authorization to submit the grant and to approve a small contract to produce the application and required board resolution.
Board members discussed risks and tradeoffs (roof life and maintenance, whether to lease roof via a PPA, technological change over decades, and microgrid/vehicle‑to‑grid possibilities). Staff said winning the grant is not guaranteed and that if the grant is not awarded the district would not proceed with the installation immediately but would maintain a 'shovel‑ready' posture for future rounds.
Both items were scheduled for board action: the buses and related funding/award at the Nov. 18 meeting and the grant application materials this month so the application can be submitted during the rolling window.