Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Ohio School System Adds Rooftop Solar Field

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 07/25/19

Federal Hocking Local Schools had a "grand 'turn on'" of its new solar power plant. Now, 1,968 solar panels installed on the roof of the joint middle and high school building will provide energy to the Ohio school system.

The solar system is expected to generate about 700 kilowatts of renewable energy annually, which will cover about 70 percent of the building's energy needs during the year. The project was contracted to Third Sun Solar.

In local reporting, the project was promoted as a way to cut the cost of energy, reduce carbon footprint and teach students about the renewable energy industry.

Early in the project, Superintendent George Wood explained how funding the system worked: An outside company would own the plant and the school district would "buy energy from them at a reduced cost." The district also invested $400,000 from its reserve account to reduce the cost of the electricity it would be purchasing and to "speed up the buy-back option on the plant." By doing so, said Wood, "we will see reduced annual costs, accelerate our path to ownership and have more money for annual expenses."

He also suggested during the official launch that other schools should take the same route. "You’re generating cheap, clean energy. You’re getting an educational benefit from kids and you’re being a good steward of public resources. Seems to me it’s a win-win solution for everyone," he said.

Eventually, the school community will be able to track the energy produced by the site through an online dashboard that displays current power and energy generated for the day, month and lifetime of the installation.

Research by the Solar Foundation reported that the state of Ohio had 45 schools that have "gone solar."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Building Beyond Simulation: Creating Immersive Ecosystems for Healthcare Education

    Health sciences education is one of the fastest-growing facility types in colleges and universities. The demand for medical, nursing, and allied health professionals is driving the creation and renovation of medical simulation training facilities that provide students with real-world experience through advanced simulation-based learning.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • Montclair State University Starts Construction on $120M STEM Building

    Montclair State University in Montclair, N.J., recently broke ground on a new $120-million Interdisciplinary Science Building, according to university news. The university partnered with HoK Architects for the project’s design, and it’s scheduled to open in time for the 2028–29 academic year.

  • DLR Group Hires Three for Higher Education Practice

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has brought three new hires on board to help shape its higher education practice in California and the northeast, according to a press release.