Tamaqua hears potential savings of solar energy

Preliminary discussions to bring solar energy to the Tamaqua Area School District began last month, and continued at Tuesday evening’s school board meeting.

Doug Neidich, CEO of Greenworks Development, delivered a detailed presentation to the entire board for the first time.

Neidich said that money would be saved as soon as the system would be turned on.

The panels would be leased for five years, and then have the opportunity to be bought out in the sixth year. If bought, the panels could be 100 percent financed.

“It’s a time sensitive window and it really makes sense right now,” Neidich said.

A pair of positive reasons, according to Neidich, is that the cost is low; and the 30 percent tax credit would be applicable.

Additionally, the solar array would have a 30-year power output warranty, which means the manufacturer would have to come replace the panels free of charge if they aren’t producing 80 percent of the original output.

Neidich’s team evaluated five different potential sites for the solar fields and two were selected; one would hypothetically be by the Tamaqua Elementary School, and another by West Penn Elementary. Both could hypothetically power the entire school district.

Neidich and his team estimate that in the first five years of the plan, the school district could save roughly $100,000 per year, and roughly $200,000 per year after year six, if bought out of the lease.

“We’re kind of uniquely positioned,” said board President Larry Wittig. “We have the land and we converted to geothermal about 12 years ago.”

Neidich and his team are located in Mechanicsburg and have done over $170 million worth of arrays over the last 12 years. The company has done roughly 25 projects in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Wittig said the board will review the proposal and reach a decision whether or not to go through with the project in the near future.

Feasibility study update

Two companies were present at the board meeting to present their feasibility study proposals.

Crabtree Rohrbaugh and Associates have been in business for 35 years and have done over 200 studies in the last decade, including $4.5 billion in educational projects.

AEM Architects Inc. was founded in 1974, The company has over 44 years of experience and 300 clients, according to its website. The company also has much experience in education, which includes having Schuylkill Haven Elementary School in its portfolio.

The school board will likely reach a decision and award a bid in the near future.