Energy Experts Help Illinois High School Maximize Onsite Solar Benefits

A public school district in Illinois recognized the value of investing in its energy strategy and was interested in exploring solutions for energy cost savings. After more than eight years of working with the NextEra Energy family of brands for smart and affordable retail energy procurement, the school trusted the company’s energy experts to deliver cost-efficient solutions that could further support its bottom line.

Challenge

A strong relationship with Usource was integral to the consideration of an onsite project. With Usource’s guidance, the school recognized that the project could provide substantial energy cost savings and, after years of consideration, it expressed interest in learning more about its benefits. They emphasized the importance of working with a local developer for their first investment in onsite solar and sought a cost-efficient solution that optimized land-use while minimizing disruptions to the school’s learning environment.
 

Solution

On Usource’s recommendation, the school considered the benefits of an onsite solar project, which would help offset a percentage of its grid power needs, reduce its carbon footprint, and provide cutting-edge learning opportunities for its students. After conducting and presenting a feasibility study, Usource’s energy experts demonstrated the value of an onsite rooftop solar project with the potential of supplying up to half of the school’s power without tying up valuable land onsite.

Working on behalf of the school, Usource ran an extensive request for proposals and, after vetting various bids, helped the school identify a local developer that met their criteria. Usource advised on the commercial terms of the negotiation and helped them contract for a 1.46 MW rooftop solar project which will produce 1,911,000 kWh of power annually.
 

Result

Within its first year of being operational, the school’s new rooftop solar project is estimated to provide close to $200k in energy cost savings compared to power purchased from the grid. By taking advantage of unused rooftop space, the project will have a minimal impact on land-use allocations while providing valuable onsite opportunities for students to learn more about solar energy. Once complete, the project will also help the school offset approximately 1,548 MT of CO2 annually, roughly the equivalent of taking 400 cars off the road each year.² With Usource’s shared insights, commercial and technical guidance, and advice, the school was able to identify and contract for a solution that met its needs with ease. Usource is looking forward to continuing to support the school with leading energy solutions shaped to meet its unique needs.

¹Savings may vary.
² U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Greenhouse gas emissions from a typical passenger vehicle. Retrieved November 27, 2024, from https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle