Springfield schools weighing power options

The School Board is considering working with other school districts rather than with the town in purchasing solar power.
http://rutlandherald.com/article/20141001/NEWS02/706189927

Published October 1, 2014 in the Rutland Herald Springfield schools weighing power options By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — The School Board is considering working with other school districts rather than with the town in purchasing solar power. Steve Hier, finance director for Springfield schools, said Monday during a joint board meeting with the Select Board that he had been talking to the Vermont School Boards Association and other school districts about the pros and cons of signing a long-term contract with a solar developer. Hier said a consortium of school districts were working together on the issue. “That’s an option available to us,” he told the boards. “What they hope to do is hire a consultant to evaluate our solar energy needs.” Winstanley Enterprises, Green Lantern Development and Powersmith Farm are proposing to build a total of five 500-kilowatt solar arrays at Winstanley’s property in the North Springfield industrial park. The solar developers have approached both the town and school district about buying part of its electricity from the solar project. They say the power will be 16 percent to 17 percent cheaper than current rates from Green Mountain Power. Hier said the school districts think they can get lower rates by banding together. Springfield Town Manager Robert Forguites told the gathering that Winstanley had announced earlier in the day it was partnering with Brattleboro Memorial Hospital to build at least one of the 500-kilowatt solar arrays at the North Springfield site. Electricity from the solar array would be used by the 61-bed Brattleboro hospital. The town is exploring the idea of signing a contract with the Winstanley-led project and receive most of the town’s electricity from the solar system. Robert Kischko, chairman of the North Springfield Action Group, which had fought Winstanley’s earlier power project, a large biomass plant, said his group was not opposed to solar development. But he cautioned the town against entering into such a long-term contract without a full economic analysis by an expert. The town has been considering buying Winstanley’s solar power, but the town charter requires a townwide vote on any long-term contract. In order to qualify for federal incentives, Winstanley must have a commitment from the town by the end of the year. Town Attorney Stephen Ankuda said any contract would also be negotiated to have a buyout clause. Representatives from Green Lantern and Powersmith were at the joint meeting, but did not speak.