SCS Solar Project May be On Line by Next Spring

By David Avitabile

SCHOHARIE - Despite cold and snowy conditions, major work should be done on the Schoharie Central School solar project this month.

The road to the project in the "lower 40" has been installed and significant work by mid-December should be completed, SCS Superintendent David Blanchard told school board members at their November 21 meeting.

All the foundations and structures are going in for the panels, followed by the panels themselves, he said. The project will not be on-line until at least next April when the connecting wiring will be installed.

Once completed, the 148 kilowatt project should save SCS about $150,000 in electric costs, Mr. Blanchard said. The district is also eligible for numerous government rebates.

The solar field is to be built on one acre behind the track in the "lower 40." The total cost of the EPC was $2,750,000.

The project is part of the district's $25.9 million building project that was approved by voters in May 2022. The district looked at either putting more solar panels on building roofs or on the back property before making a decision.

National Grid has provided 90 percent of the cost for the building of the electric vehicles stations. Any revenue would go to the district. Each station would have two chargers each. The stations were installed last summer and operational by the time school started. Two of the stations were built by the construction area and the rest near the bus garage.

The project does not require any new local taxpayer funds as state aid and the current building reserve will cover the costs.