A 1.3-MW solar system built atop the Cornell School District in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, will offset 100% of its annual energy usage.
“I’d like to congratulate Cornell School District on successfully installing their cost-effective solar array,” said State Rep. Anita Kulik (D-45). “The development of a new energy system to meet the needs of hundreds of students shows tremendous leadership on the part of the school in taking energy bills into their own hands. Going solar will help Cornell stabilize their electricity costs, which will be lower than ever before.”
The first public school district in Allegheny County to go solar, the array is estimated to save the school nearly $2.5 million over the next 30 years. Under the terms of the power purchase agreement, project developer BAI Group will lease the rooftop property from the school and sell the power back to it at a rate that is stable and lower than current electricity rates for the next 30 years.
“Cornell is the perfect example of how schools, municipalities, businesses, faith organizations, farms, and any kind of organization can often save thousands to tens of thousands of dollars on their annual electric bills with the help of solar,” said Sharon Pillar, Founder and Executive Director of the PA Solar Center. “Going solar is a great way to offset the rising energy costs all consumers have been facing in recent years. And if more schools and other large organizations went solar, we could see a net benefit for all energy consumers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, regardless of whether they are solar consumers or not.”
Pillar encouraged other schools and organizations to check out the Pennsylvania Solar Center’s GET Solar program, which provides free technical assistance and financial guidance to businesses and organizations looking to go solar.
“Cornell School District is so proud to have turned what was once just an idea into reality, and to have demonstrated to our students that anything is possible,” said Aaron Thomas, Cornell superintendent. “We look forward to saving significant money on our monthly energy bills, and to redirecting those savings to educating our students.”
News item from the Pennsylvania Solar Center
