The District installed a 1,300-kilowatt solar system on the roof of the school in December 2024 by GAI Group that is estimated to produce about 1.6M kwh/year
Cornell estimates the system will save them nearly $2,500,000 over the next 30 years thanks to financing and construction by solar developer BAI Group.
BAI Group provided the school with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which allowed the school to install solar without investing any money down.
Under the terms of the PPA, BAI Group will lease the rooftop property from the school and sell the power back to them at a rate that is stable and lower than current electricity rates for the next 30 years.
“I’d like to congratulate Cornell School District on successfully installing their cost-effective solar array,” said state Rep. Anita Kulik (D-Allegheny). “The development of a new energy system to meet the needs of hundreds of students shows tremendous leadership on the part of the school in taking energy bills into their own hands. Going solar will help Cornell stabilize their electricity costs, which will be lower than ever before.”
“Cornell School District is so proud to have turned what was once just an idea into reality, and to have demonstrated to our students that anything is possible,” said Dr. Aaron Thomas, Cornell Superintendent. “We look forward to saving significant money on our monthly energy bills, and to redirecting those savings to educating our students.”
“Cornell is the perfect example of how schools, municipalities, businesses, faith organizations, farms, and any kind of organization can often save thousands to tens of thousands of dollars on their annual electric bills with the help of solar,” said Sharon Pillar, Founder and Executive Director of the PA Solar Center. “Going solar is a great way to offset the rising energy costs all consumers have been facing in recent years. And if more schools and other large organizations went solar, we could see a net benefit for all energy consumers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, regardless of whether they are solar consumers or not.”
“Helping Cornell School District go solar without putting any money down, via a PPA, was incredibly rewarding,” said Sel Edor from BAI Group. “We have helped countless organizations who have limited cash on hand successfully go solar and go on to save thousands every year in energy costs, and to use those savings in a much more useful way.”
The School District also had a new roof installed on the building at the same time with the solar panels by Tremco.
"The school district required a new roof system that would provide 30+ years of service and serve as base for the solar array,” said Rich Kosuda, Jr., Senior Field Advisor at Tremco. “The school district chose a Tremco roofing solution that was purchased through the Keystone Purchasing Network and installed by Pennsylvania Roofing Systems. All the partners involved are committed and aligned to provide a long-term successful solar solution and a leak-free building."
Pillar encourages other schools and organizations to check out the Pennsylvania Solar Center’s GET Solar program, which provides free technical assistance and financial guidance to businesses and organizations looking to go solar.
Solar energy is the fastest-growing energy in the country and is saving businesses, nonprofits, communities, and residents thousands of dollars in utility bills.
Businesses that go solar are hedging against volatile electricity pricing because the cost of solar, once the upfront equipment costs are paid, is nearly free.
The Cornell School District, serving the communities of Coraopolis and Neville Island, just ten miles west of Pittsburgh, is a single-campus K–12 district where 575 students learn in small, supportive classes averaging 17 students each
BAI Group, LLC is a Pennsylvania-based civil engineering, environmental consulting, and solar development firm with deep roots in energy and renewable development. The company provides comprehensive services to support solar development throughout the Mid-Atlantic, including engineering design, permitting, and project development.
The PA Solar Center is a nonprofit organization with the mission to expand the benefits of solar to all Pennsylvanians to ensure a resilient, sustainable, and affordable future. The Center offers technical assistance to more than 300 non-profit organizations, schools, businesses, and communities to help them go solar.
[Posted: September 16, 2025] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment