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MIFFLINTOWN -- Last winter, the Juniata County School District Board of Directors discussed the feasibility of creating a solar program but tabled any decisions.
School administrators even brought in representatives from GreenWorks Development LLC, of Harrisburg, for a formal presentation. Initially, Greenworks representatives guaranteed a $1.5 million rebate could be secured if a contract could be secured before Thanksgiving 2022.
That deadline passed as well as an ensuing one for a rebate likely in the $750,000.
At the time, several directors stated they needed more time to gather information on the subject.
With electric costs expected to continually increase, the installation of six solar arrays could produce 115 percent of the school district's annual electric usage. The district's electric bill last year was around $350,000.
At Wednesday night's board of directors' monthly workshop meeting, school district business manager Richard Meily rekindled the idea.
"We'll be looking at doubling our electricity costs, if we don't do anything," Meily warned of anticipated increases in electricity rates. "With solar, we can generate more than 100 percent and sell it back to the grid."
Meily said many schools, including neighboring schools like the Midd-West School District, have already made the transition. "They've reduced electricity costs," Meily added. "We're locked in for 23 months."
Which means the directors would need to reach a decision soon.
According to the previous proposal, the district would lease the solar arrays from a group of investors for five years. Starting with the sixth year, the district could purchase the program outright.
The board did not take any action on the matter on Wednesday.