Small Town News

$5.5 million solar panels could save Mingus thousands per year

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A local solar energy contractor told Mingus Union High School District Governing Board it could install solar panels that would save the district thousands of dollars in electric bills each year.

Douglas Jones of Sedona-based Carbon Solar told the board during a work session Thursday, Sept. 9, the photovoltaic system could be installed at a cost of around $5.5 million.

During a regular meeting following the work session, the board voted unanimously to ask for bids on the project.

Under the proposal, MUHSD would not pay Carbon Solar $5.5 million to install the system. Instead, the district would buy its electricity from Carbon Solar at a discount

off what the district now pays APS, Jones said.

He estimated the district could save as much as $40,000 in the first year, or about $2.25 million over 20 years.

At current rates, the district would pay $1.8 million more to APS over the same period using standard power sources, according to Jones' calculations.

Jones proposed to install the photovoltaic system on property owned by the district located across Camino Real Drive where Sedona Recycles maintains recycling bins. .

During the regular meeting, board member Andy Groseta said the site would not be suitable unless the system could be situated so other sections of the property would be available for other uses.

In response to a question about liability, board member Jim Ledbetter, an attorney, said he could advise the district on drafting a contract for electrical power that would make certain the district's cost savings were preserved over time and protect against liability in case the panels injured somebody.

Superintendent Tim Foist said during the regular meeting the system would not be installed on the roof of the high school because there are already too many HVAC units and other equipment situated there and the added weight of the solar panels would be too great.

One option could be to construct covered parking units in one of the school's parking lots and place the panels on top, Foist said.



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