Mountain Middle School is planning to go solar in November, moving toward becoming Durango’s first net-zero school.
Net zero means a facility produces as much energy as it uses. The free public charter school will achieve its goal after Shaw Solar installs the second largest solar array in town on the school’s roof.
The panels will belong to and be maintained by Shaw Solar, with Mountain Middle School paying a flat rate for the electricity generated. After the sixth year, the school has an option to buy the panels.
If the school needs more electricity than the panels are generating, it will continue to purchase it from La Plata Electric Association, and if it produces more than it needs, the electricity will be sold back to LPEA.
“The monthly cost should be the same or less than our current budgeted amount for power,” spokeswoman Leigh Bright said, although the school estimates the array will save $190,000 in electric bills over the next 25 years, money it plans to put back into the classroom.
Installation is scheduled for early November.
“We are also excited about the learning opportunities our students will have,” said head of school Shane Voss, “as they will be able to track how much electrical energy our system is producing each day. This will undoubtedly be implemented in several meaningful science projects and will hopefully inspire our students to be more eco-conscious.”
abutler@durangoherald.com
