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Hendrick Hudson District Announces Plans To Go Solar

CORTLANDT, N.Y. --  The Hendrick Hudson Board of Education announced on Wednesday that it will move forward with plans to install solar panels on the district’s five school buildings.

Hendrick Hudson has announced plans to install solar panels at its schools.

Hendrick Hudson has announced plans to install solar panels at its schools.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Hendrick Hudson

The new program is projected to supply 46 percent of the the schools’ power needs over 20 years.

Structural engineers have evaluated the roofs of all five schools and have determined there is sufficient capacity to locate solar panels on the available flat areas.

The installation would begin in June, with a projected startup in September, and cost savings would begin to be realized in the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

The district currently purchases electrical power from the New York Power Authority. Working with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Siemens would install solar panels and related equipment that will allow the district to purchase power at a reduced cost.

The expected benefits include a lower cost to supply electrical energy to the schools and cost stability across the academic year. With traditional electrical sources, increases in the cost of natural gas, for instance, have translated into higher electric outlays at various times of the year.  

Additionally, the project will include a Sustainability Education Program, offering education to students, faculty and administrators in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) field. Topics would include energy efficiency, conservation and sustainability.

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