The East Grand Forks (Minnesota) School District is installing a $1.2 million solar panel project near Central Middle School.
The Grand Forks Herald reports that a $500,000 Solar for Schools state grant will enable the district to carry out the installation.
Superintendent Kevin Grover said the district is working with the city, county and state to get final approval and hopes to break ground this summer.
In addition to the Solar for Schools grant, federal investment tax credits will cover around $350,000, domestic materials incentive tax credits will pay another $117,000, and the remaining $200,000 will come from the district’s general fund reserves.
The solar panels are projected to save the district $50,000 to $55,000 a year after three to four years of operation. A majority of these savings will come from the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency purchasing the energy back from the district.
The solar panels also will be incorporated into student curriculum, according to Grover.
“We just built a good area, a good place to do this,” he said. “And the opportunity was right with the grants in place.”
