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Board hears update on solar project, battery delay and contract buyout questions
Summary
Administrators told the board the district paused site work and is coordinating contractors; members pressed for production and buyout numbers after battery storage delays left the system operating under a fixed-price contract, and asked for a report comparing production and bills.
The Litchfield School Board spent substantial time on July 8 receiving updates and asking questions about the district solar project, a pause in site work and the delayed battery installation that has so far prevented the system from meeting its intended net‑zero performance.
The business administrator (speaker 7) said site work was paused and KW Management is coordinating with Continental to complete pad and paving work. Board members and the superintendent (speaker 3) discussed contract structure (lease vs. buy), the six‑year buyout provision, and how the absence of the battery affects capture of production and storage benefits. The superintendent said the district has already seen lower utility costs compared with the year before the system was installed, but that the district lacks full production and Eversource data needed to calculate the net financial impact precisely.
Board members asked administration to obtain and present a clear summary showing: the current contract buyout terms, the projected buyout price at the relevant milestone, a comparative analysis of what the district has paid to date versus estimated remaining costs and the effect of delayed battery storage on projected savings. One board member suggested posting a running production/usage dashboard on the district website so the community can track panel output and grid usage.
Administrators committed to follow up with the contractor and the vendor contacts (KW Management, Continental) and to report back with the requested figures and supporting documentation for future budget discussions.
