The roof of Nashua’s Dr. Norman W. Crisp Elementary School may in the near future feature solar panels to serve as the source of electricity for the facility.

We urge the Nashua Board of Education to explore the option of solar panels for all of its buildings, but to also make sure they are getting the best possible deal for taxpayers.

During the board’s recent Finance and Operations Committee meeting, Revision Energy Director of Market Development Dan Weeks discussed the financial aspects of bringing solar to Dr. Crisp. In particular, he spoke of a power purchase agreement (PPA).

Through such a potential agreement, the school would license its roof to a third-party finance partner for solar. The partner would have the responsibility of building and operating the solar array, and would have ownership for at least five years.

At year six, the school would have the option to buy the solar array at a cost of about $400,000.

“The cost of solar panels continues to go down; the efficiency of solar panels continues to improve,” Weeks told board members.

“Each time the sunlight hits the panels, that power would first feed the school. And at times in the summer, when load probably lower and production is certainly higher because of longer days, that excess power net meter would be delivered to the utility grid and the electrons would literally power neighboring homes in that part of town,” Weeks added.

Nashua School District Chief Operating Officer Dan Donovan said he believed it would make sense for Weeks to attend to a full board meeting or to get more people to hear the presentation before coming to a conclusion. Donovan said he also had a few questions he wants to ask city officials, including what their financing plan is for their PPA.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, there is still plenty of room for Nashua – and all of New Hampshire – to grow in terms of solar power. In 2018, a modest 21% of the Granite State’s electricity came from renewable sources, with most of that coming in the forms of hydroelectric power and biomass.

Solar power can, potentially, both reduce the school district’s carbon footprint, as well as the cost of operating the buildings. However, school officials and city leaders must be wise when considering such investments.