Solar Panels on Lehigh Valley Schools Could Power 9,000 Homes
The installation of solar panels on the 186 schools within the Lehigh Valley has the potential to generate enough electricity to power more than 9,000 homes, according to a recent report from PennEnvironment’s nonprofit research center. The study highlights a significant opportunity for renewable energy in the region and underscores the impact of solar technology on local electricity costs and carbon emissions.
Should all of Pennsylvania’s approximately 5,000 schools convert to solar power, the estimated electricity generated could sustain over 187,000 homes for an entire year. Within Lehigh County, the 112 schools are projected to have a solar capacity of nearly 41.8 megawatts, which could provide power to around 5,050 homes. The initial year of these projects could yield savings of nearly $6.9 million in electricity costs, accumulating to about $17.4 million over the lifespan of the solar installations.
Similarly, Northampton County’s 74 schools are estimated to generate close to 34.3 megawatts of solar energy, enough to power an additional 4,124 homes. These projects could save the schools approximately $5.6 million in their first year, with total savings projected to reach nearly $13.7 million throughout their operational lifetime.
Environmental Impact and Challenges Ahead
The report also notes that if solar panels were implemented across the state’s educational institutions, the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions could equate to taking 300,000 cars off the road. Overall, schools could save about $342 million over the lifespan of the solar systems.
Despite these promising figures, financing large-scale solar projects is becoming increasingly challenging. The Clean Energy Investment Tax Credit, established by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which previously covered 30% of project costs, is being phased out. New projects must commence construction before July 2026 and become operational before 2027 to qualify for these benefits. Additionally, new restrictions on “foreign entities of concern” could disqualify projects that obtain components from certain countries, including China, a leading manufacturer of solar technology.
Pennsylvania does offer a state-level initiative known as the Solar for Schools program, designed to support the types of projects advocated in the PennEnvironment report. In its inaugural year, the program allocated $22.6 million in grants, though none of the awarded projects were located in Lehigh or Northampton counties. Supporters of this program are now advocating for ongoing budget allocations to sustain and expand solar initiatives in schools.
Success Stories in Local Districts
Among the success stories in Pennsylvania’s school solar initiatives is the Bethlehem Area School District, which has successfully installed 1.625 megawatts of solar capacity across five schools, completing the project in 2012. The solar arrays now supply 10% of the energy needed at Freedom High School, 25% at East Hills Middle School, 50% at Spring Garden Elementary, and 100% at both James Buchanan and Farmersville elementary schools.
Mark Stein, BASD’s Chief Facilities and Operations Officer, detailed at an April event focused on the district’s electrification efforts that a partnership with installer Tangent Energy Solutions involved a power purchasing agreement worth $7.2 million. This agreement fixed the district’s energy purchase price at 9 cents per kilowatt for a 20-year duration, initially allowing BASD to pay below market rates for solar energy.
However, as energy prices decreased, the district faced a slight premium on solar energy costs, amounting to $178,000 over 15 years. This figure represents a minor portion of the district’s average annual energy costs, which hover around $2 million. With current energy prices on the rise, Stein anticipates that the district will soon begin to realize savings from their solar investments. The power purchasing agreement will be fully settled in about five years, after which the district will benefit from fully paid-off solar panels.
This initiative showcases how solar energy can serve as both an environmental benefit and a financial asset for educational institutions, potentially paving the way for broader adoption in the future. The ongoing efforts to expand solar capacity in schools across Lehigh Valley reflect a growing commitment to sustainable energy solutions, despite the challenges ahead.
