Schools

Medford Schools to Get Solar Panels

The city's elementary and middle schools will be fitted with solar panels.

It's back to the future - of energy - for Medford public schools.

Schools in Medford are already home to a wind turbine, now there are plans to bring solar panels to elementary and middle schools, Mayor Michael McGlynn announced at a recent school committee meeting.

The panels, which will be installed on the schools' roofs, project to save the district $50,000 in energy costs next year and $1.1 million over 20 years, McGlynn said.

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The first panels will be installed at Andrews Middle School and should be ready to go by the start of the upcoming school year, McGlynn said.

The city struck an agreement with Daigle Electric, that calls for the company to install and own the solar panels and, in turn, sell the power to the schools at a reduced rate, the mayor said.

Find out what's happening in Medfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Our incentive is they charge us less for our electricity," McGlynn said during a July 25 school committee meeting.

After six years, the city will have an annual option to buy the panels from the electric company at a depreciated price.

In 2009, a wind turbine was installed next to the McGlynn school, providing about 10 percent of the energy used there, but also offering students a lesson in wind energy.

McGlynn said there would be plans to tie the solar panels into classroom teachings as well. Eventually, McGlynn said he envisions the creation a "solar house" that would serve as a sort of renewable energy park, that could be a destination for not only Medford students but schools around the area.

"Not only would it benefit our students, we feel it would be an area where other schools would want to take their children," McGlynn said. "We’re building and educating a whole new generation of leaders."


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