Solar Panels Installed on Five Mehlville Schools
Students and teachers can watch the solar panels in action using kiosks set up at Beasley Elementary, Hagemann Elementary, Bernard Middle School, Oakville High School, and the Witzel Alternative Academy.
Five schools in the Mehlville School District can now start harnessing solar energy.
StraightUp Solar completed the installation of 125 kilowatts of solar electric panels atop Beasley Elementary, Hagemann Elementary, Bernard Middle School, Oakville High School, and the Witzel Alternative Academy.
The St. Louis-based solar company designed and installed the five solar electric systems in less than six weeks.
“This solar project is such a positive return on investment for the District. Without any out-of-pocket expenses, we begin saving money on our electric bill immediately,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric Knost. “By realizing an estimated $130,000 in energy savings over the next 20 years, we’re not only being good stewards of our taxpayers’ dollars, but good stewards of our environment too.”
On May 17, the school board unanimously approved a 20-year lease agreement for five solar panel systems at no out-of-pocket expenses and an estimated savings of $130,660 over the length of the lease.
In addition to the cost savings and cleaner air, the solar panels will directly support Mehlville’s curriculum at every grade-level. Using Tigo Energy Monitors, incorporated into the panels, StraightUp Solar has set up a kiosk in each of the five buildings where students and teachers can watch the solar panels in action.
“The web-based monitoring is an effective way for students to track the electricity production and the environmental offsets of the solar panels. Plus, monitoring gives our clients peace of mind that the system is producing each day as expected,” says StraightUp Solar President Dane Glueck.
The price of solar panels has dropped dramatically just as electric rates in Ameren Missouri territory have risen 25% in the last five years, according to a press release.
“More and more people are realizing that solar is a great investment which has substantial financial benefits. We have seen a rapid uptick in the number of people pursuing solar for their homes, businesses, schools, and churches,” Mike Hornitschek of StraightUp Solar said.
In honor of the new solar installation, StraightUp Solar and Mehlville District students are raising money for SolarAid, a non-profit working to bring solar energy to school children and individuals in rural Kenya and Tanzania that do not have access to electricity.
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Ron Fedorchak
9:15 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
I would also like to point out that the Board chose slightly more expensive American-made panels over Chinese-made panels. The story mentions the drop in price of solar panels. This drop can be tied directly to the Chinese manufacturers dumping panels on the marlet in hopes of destroying the US manufacturers. My hope is that the students who are exposed to this technology have jobs to go to when they graduate.
PaulRevere
1:44 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
Ron Hopes our students "have jobs". Now that is the most sane conclusion of what to expect from our Public Education.
I just hope The Actual 12 months (2012) Current (Ameren) Electric bills cost for 2012 are available for future reference. We all can follow how correct the $130,000 Estimated savings is. Hopefully, the savings is more, but without Federal grants in 20 years and without substantially same lease terms, the district will be faced with major "Real costs" investment in Solar.
Hopefully, a 2013 solar progress report shows annual Lease, maintenance, kiosk costs etc alongside the actual Ameren Electric bills paid in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
A starting gate analysis would be "good stewardship".
I hope StraightUpSolar is around in 20 years.
I wonder if a 10 year lease calculation would have saved half of $130,000.
e.g. will solar leases be lower in 5 to 10 years from now?
"Good stewards" come from "Actual Results" not "20 year estimated results".
No one could possibly predict energy inventions and innovations and new delivery methods that would change all known lease cost factors today.
That is a Fact, Not an opinion.
Bob McKitrick
9:54 am on Saturday, December 8, 2012
I'd like to commend Ron and the rest of the board for unanimously approving this project and for "Buying American." Alternative Energy sources are going to become much more common place in my lifetime and why not? Solar energy is just a better all around choice than mining and burning coal. I predict that our kids will live in homes with solar panels on the roof when they are my age (35). That's the way things are trending. Congrats to Mehlville for staying ahead of the curve.