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McClure outlines solar plan for Salisbury Township SD; board asks for tighter numbers before decision
Summary
McClure Company told the district’s operations committee that rooftop solar combined with lighting upgrades could offset most school electricity use and produce roughly $2.6 million in modeled savings over 20 years. Trustees asked the firm and staff to return in November with refined costs, interconnect allowances and a recommendation.
McClure Company representatives presented a preliminary solar-feasibility study to the Salisbury Township School District Operations & Finance Committee on Oct. 8, saying rooftop arrays and lighting retrofits could sharply reduce the district’s electric bills and stabilize long-term utility costs.
“Again my name is Mark Galick, I’m with McClure Company,” said the presenter, who summarized the firm’s benchmarking and a rooftop layout that would offset substantial portions of each building’s electricity use. McClure’s analysis estimated the middle school rooftop could supply about 90% of that building’s annual electricity and that the elementary school could produce more than 100% of its current use after lighting upgrades; the high school model showed roughly a 65% offset rising to about 73% with additional lighting work.
The presentation described two procurement paths: a power purchase agreement (PPA), in which the developer installs and maintains arrays at no upfront capital cost to the district, and a direct purchase in which the district owns and operates the system and accepts related maintenance responsibilities. McClure said it modeled the project as a PPA—chiefly because PPAs remove the upfront capital burden—and outlined customization of term, price and escalation to match district cash-flow needs.
The consultants also explained net metering and virtual net metering. Under standard net metering, a building that overproduces during sunny months can bank credits; virtual net metering lets an overproducing array offset load at other district meters within a limited radius. McClure warned that interconnection studies and utility requirements could change final costs and said the firm would carry allowances for those items in a tighter November proposal.
Board members and staff pressed on pricing assumptions and timing. Administration provided a current kilowatt purchase rate of $0.05608 per kilowatt-hour (excluding delivery fees); a consultant described an all-in blended retail rate just under 11 cents (10.98¢) per kWh and said typical PPA start rates in McClure proposals fall in the mid‑9¢ range before escalation. McClure noted that federal tax‑incentive rules tied to the Inflation Reduction Act have deadlines that make the timeline compressed and urged reaching “safe harbors” before year‑end where eligible.
Trustees did not take a formal vote. After questions and discussion, McClure asked whether the board wanted the firm to continue design and cost work; committee members signaled general support (head nods/thumbs up) and asked McClure and staff to return in November with tightened numbers, allowances for interconnect work, and a recommendation to present at the November operations and board meetings.
What happens next: McClure will refine the design and financial model, carry allowances for likely interconnect work, and provide updated line-item numbers in November; the administration said it expects to recommend proceeding at ops and then present a decision to the full board.
