JERSEY: Solar panels project to save $97,000 in energy costs at JCHS
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By Steven Spencer
The large array of solar panels on the roof of Jersey Community High School is projected to have an estimated net annual savings of approximately $97,000 in energy costs next year, according to information presented at the March Jersey Board of Education meeting.
During the meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Transportation and Facilities Cory Breden said that even in the most recent winter months savings in energy costs were around $10,000.
“December, January and February are not great months when it comes to solar,” Breden said. “Still, able to save a total of a little over $10,000 with our solar.”
“Great decision by the board to include those solar panels and reaping the benefits,” he added while noting that the estimated savings of $97,000 might be a little low based on the current prices.
With over 3,000 solar panel modules on the 153,025 square foot roof, the largest array on a school roof in the state of Illinois, solar produced about 70percent of the electricity for the 2022 calendar year at the high school.
“In the calendar year 2022, JCHS consumed just under 1.9 million kWh of electricity. The solar panels produced 1.3 million kWh. This would put the solar panels at production just under 70percent of the electricity for the 2022 calendar year. The financial savings for the district is significant, especially with electric prices as high as they are currently,” Brenden said.
Such significant savings from solar has led other schools to look into it as well such as Calhoun, Litchfield, Carlinville and Edwardsville.
With solar panels at Jersey Community High School, Jersey Community Middle School and West Elementary, plans are already in the works to have them installed in the rest of the district at East and Grafton Elementary.
Both Superintendent Brad Tuttle and Breden agreed that the board’s decision in moving forward with solar has been tremendous for the district, especially with the current electric rates.
“I’d like to thank the board for having the foresight to approve these projects that are going to have hundreds of thousands of savings in the future,” Tuttle added.
