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ESG pitches solar, geothermal and efficiency work to East Porter County board
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Summary
Energy Systems Group (ESG) presented a multi‑phase Project Development Agreement (PDA) to the East Porter County School Corporation board on April 27, outlining solar, geothermal, transformer replacements and building-envelope work aimed at lowering utility bills and leveraging federal and state incentives.
Energy Systems Group, the district’s selected performance‑contracting firm, presented a package of energy‑saving projects to the East Porter County School Corporation Board of Trustees during the board’s April 27 work session.
The presentation, led by project developer Jika Posley and engineer Greg Lang, covered solar photovoltaic options (roof mounts, canopies and potential ground arrays), evaluations of interior building transformers, emergency generator sizing, and building‑envelope repairs the firm said could deliver immediate operational savings. Posley described ESG as vendor neutral and said the firm will cover development engineering costs within the PDA fee structure, which only becomes a construction charge if the board proceeds to build.
The proposal emphasized careful solar sizing tied to the district’s NIPSCO billing profile. Lang told trustees that net metering ended several years ago and that excess exported energy can be credited at a low rate (approximately 4¢ per kilowatt‑hour) while the district currently pays roughly 26¢ per kilowatt‑hour when importing power. “Because net metering went away, you don’t want to put too much solar on,” Lang said, noting ESG analyzed roof space, shade and electrical service locations to size arrays so production offsets on‑site load rather than producing export credits.
Posley and Lang highlighted two incentives shaping timing: an Investment Tax Credit (ITC)-style federal tax benefit for solar and a separate federal credit for geothermal work. ESG estimated an example solar project could yield approximately 42.5% in estimated savings via tax credits and noted certain incentives are time‑limited; the presenters urged analysis before 2027 to capture immediate solar credits.
Trustees questioned structural impacts and roof replacement timing. ESG said rooftop racking for flat roofs is typically installed with an 11–12% tilt and ballasted with concrete masonry units, and a structural engineer would confirm loads for each building. Where roofs are near end‑of‑life, Posley said coordinating roof replacement with solar installation and selecting membranes with long warranties (administration discussed targeting 30‑year membranes where solar is installed) reduces lifecycle risk. “No good money after bad,” Posley said, arguing the firm will recommend timing that avoids short‑term rework.
ESG also proposed replacing older interior transformers and aging chillers and refrigeration units (several described as circa 1999) and running targeted envelope work (recaulking, sealed mortar joints) and lighting occupancy sensor updates as lower‑cost measures that improve efficiency.
On procurement, ESG stressed the PDA’s role: ESG will fully engineer chosen scopes, create bid packages and prequalify contractors. Under state statute, the district retains control of the bidders list and may add or remove bidders; ESG said the PDA covers upfront design and engineering costs and that the board will see bidders lists and final cost estimates before any construction commitment.
ESG closed by offering references from projects in Bloomington, Evansville and East Chicago and saying the team is ready to begin PDA work promptly if the board approves the agreement.
What’s next: ESG said it will deliver fully developed feasibility analyses and structural assessments within the PDA. The board did not take a vote at the work session; administration and counsel will return recommendations about next steps for the PDA at a future meeting.
