SOLAR SUCCESS STORIES
Join us on Thurs. Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Carmel library to learn about local solar success stories, including Carmel’s library and water treatment facilities, schools in Fishers, Noblesville and Sheridan, and solar carports at Capital Group.
The discussion will be led by Carmel High School students, Howard Gu and Mira Nuthakki.
Don’t miss this illuminating conversation!
Solar at Local Schools – Schools across the nation are embracing solar power—and Hamilton County is no exception! Schools in Fishers, Noblesville, and Sheridan are harnessing the sun to save on energy costs, freeing up funds for classrooms, providing rich hands-on STEM learning experiences, and reducing their carbon footprint to secure a brighter future for their students. See more below.
Solar at the Water Plant – In 2020, the City of Carmel installed two solar arrays to help power its 106th street water plant and the wastewater treatment plan on Hazel Dell, about 1 megawatt. This worked so well that in 2024, the city installed more solar at the water plant on the west side of town.
Solar at the Library – As part of their 2020 expansion, the Carmel Clay Public Library added 552 solar panels on the roof to meet 20-30% of its energy needs, save on energy costs and reduce its carbon footprint.
Solar Carports at Capital Group – In 2024, Capital Group moved one step closer to meeting its corporate sustainability and social responsibility goals by increasing its commitment to clean energy. Their solar carports host a 2.5 MW system, significantly reducing their reliance on non-renewable energy sources, while also supporting the City of Carmel’s Climate Action Plan.
Join us to learn about their solar success stories. The discussion will be led by Carmel High School students. Don’t miss this illuminating conversation!
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Carmel Youth Leaders focus on solar for schools.
Fishers, Noblesville and Sheridan schools have solar. Here’s their story…
In 2016 Sheridan Community Schools became one of Indiana’s first completely solar powered school systems to manage energy costs.
“We’ll save somewhere in the ballpark of $4 to $5 million over the next 20 years,” says Dave Mundy, superintendent of Sheridan Community Schools.
Next to teachers, energy is one of the district’s largest costs. Almost 20 percent, one of every five district dollars, pays to keep the lights on, buildings warm and computers running. So when the district received a letter forecasting a 7 percent jump in their energy bill, it was significant. The equivalent of half a teacher’s pay. https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/why-this-indiana-school-district-is-going-completely-solar
Over the past several years the cost of energy has gone up at a fairly significant rate. Mundy explained that due to the decision to go to solar power, Sheridan has not seen any of these increases as they are locked into a consistent rate and will have this rate until 2048. According to Mundy, to date, Sheridan’s solar array has produced 11,536,693 kilowatt-hours (kwh) of power, which equates to approximately $1,361,329 of deferred cost savings and energy sell-back for the district.
The 11,536,693 kwh produced to date is equivalent to powering all the homes of Sheridan for a year!
In addition, Mundy shared that the project could create a real-life learning opportunity as Sheridan High School explores starting a Renewable Energy Pathway for students as part of its curriculum.
https://readthereporter.com/sheridans-solar-powered-schools-about-more-than-saving-money/
In 2019, HSE installed solar arrays at three different schools (Sand Creek Elementary, Sand Creek
Intermediate and Hamilton Intermediate and Junior High) for a total of 4,800 solar panels at the cost of $2.8 million.
The schools use an average of 3,270,539 kWh of power each year. In 2022, just 846,896 kWh of power was purchased — which saved nearly $350,000 in energy costs. In addition, solar was able to offset a dramatic economic impact when energy rates spiked that year from 8-10 cents to nearly 15 cents per kWh. https://www.thisisfishers.com/hse-solar/
Financed through a four-year bond issue, the $2.8 million solar project is projected to pay for itself in 11 years through electricity cost savings.
The curriculum Ameresco provided will help teachers educate students about the latest innovations in renewable energy technology and the importance of sustainability for the future of our environment. https://www.larryinfishers.com/2019/07/23/solar-power-coming-to-more-hse-schools/
“(The solar panels are) going to help us avoid over $300,000 of utility costs per year, producing energy for schools for more than 30 years,” Bourff said.
“Schools have to operate with an intention to good financial decision-making, but schools exist to educate students, and if we are to see students emerge from our classrooms as thought leaders, change agents and concerned citizens, then we have to turn them loose on problems and challenges that excite their curiosity and arouse their creativity. That’s what this is all about. This project was designed as a component of our curriculum.” https://www.youarecurrent.com/2019/08/29/hamilton-southeastern-schools-flips-the-switch-for-solar-farm/
In 2020, Noblesville installed solar fields at White River Elementary, Promise Road Elementary, Noblesville West Middle School, and the district’s Transportation Center to provide almost all of the energy used by those facilities for a net savings of $7,993,515 over 30 years.
https://www.performanceservices.com/project/noblesville-schools-solar/
“Solar has a huge impact, not only the environmental part, which we believe in, but solar also has a fiscal impact on schools, which is unique to the school system and very beneficial when we want to help our teachers,” said Dr. Mundy Noblesville Schools Associate Supt.
The $3 million project is estimated to annually save the district $250,000 to $300,000 during the next 30 to 40 years that can be used to help with teacher salaries and support staff salaries. That’s a huge deal, especially with the way Indiana finances are being run right now.
The solar panels will be funded through a current bond and will not required a raise in the school tax rate. The project also won’t use referendum dollars.
Throughout the next several decades, school officials say solar energy could save the district between $6 million and $12 million. https://www.youarecurrent.com/2020/02/18/saving-with-solar-noblesville-schools-to-implement-alternative-energy-at-three-locations/