Central Cambria board hears from prospective solar contractors
EBENSBURG, Pa. – Central Cambria School District's solar project at the Cambria Township campus has been narrowed down to two candidates, and Monday the school board heard from those prospects.
BAI Group presented first, followed by McClure Co. and Envinity, which are partnering on the potential work.
The order was decided by a coin flip.
'Both were fantastic,' Superintendent Jason Moore said.
Thomas Woods, board president, agreed.
Woods said the companies have 'solid reputations' in this field and the representatives provided great information.
The district is exploring a power purchase agreement in which the chosen company, which will likely be picked at the June 16 meeting, will absorb the cost of installation and upkeep for the solar arrays and sell electricity to Central Cambria at a set rate for the duration of a 28-year contract.
Potential array locations include the middle and high school roofs and Cambria Elementary roof as well as potential ground mounted units, such as around the football field or at the former baseball field.
Moore said the Jackson Elementary project that recently was awarded a Solar for Schools grant is separate from this undertaking.
Sel Edor, BAI general manager of renewables, told the four board members in attendance that his company could provide a roughly 2.5 megawatt array that would supply electricity at a rate of 6.4 cents per kilowatt-hours.
'Obviously, we want to produce as much electricity as you can use,' Edor said.
BAI's proposal was for 80% of the campus's total electrical consumption.
Central Cambria consumes around 4 million kWh annually at a rate of 11 cents per kWh, for a cost of around $700,000 per year, Moore said.
Edor said despite BAI's proposal being 80%, it is possible for the Cambria Township campus to reach 100% offset of consumption.
McClure and Envinity's presentation included 100% offset of electrical use at about 9 cents kWh.
However, that would mean 'a lot of solar in a lot of places,' Envinity Commercial Solar Development Manager Cam Willison said.
Christopher Stultz, McClure vice president of strategic solutions, said the cost per kilowatt-hour may change as well if their proposal is accepted.
He told the board the companies would 'value engineer' the project and explore efficiency measures that could impact that cost.
Greg Winks, Envinity director of solar business development, and Damian Zampogna, McClure Manager of renewable solutions, presented as well.
Both sets of presenters said a ballasted system would be used for roof installation to avoid direct connections to the covering but still secure the arrays.
They also projected the installation may extend more than a year.
Woods said the reason the board is exploring a solar project is because the district wants to offset costs they can't control, such as electricity, and reinvest those savings back into the education of the students.
He also said that when a contractor is chosen, the board will pay close attention to the economic and aesthetic aspects of the undertaking.
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