Franklin Co. Community School Board Approves Solar Energy System

Franklin County Schools is the first public school district to adopt Solar-as-a-Service.

(Brookville, Ind.) - The Franklin County Community School Corporation is the first public school district in Indiana to adopt Solar-as-a-Service. 

The FCCSC School Board unanimously approved last month an agreement with Carmel-based Sun FundED to develop, finance and service solar energy systems for the district's high school and middle school. 

The project is expected to reduce energy costs by an estimated $5 million over the next 30 years. 

Based on the two buildings selected, the first year savings could be up to $20,000. Duke Energy has already approved the interconnection applications for FCCSC and construction is estimated to begin in the fall of 2022. 

When installed, the project would represent 869 KW over two solar fields on unused land the district owns, that will offset electric consumption for the high school and middle school. 

“‘Typically, a project of this magnitude would require a school corporation to issue a Bond and raise community member’s taxes. Solar-as-a-service’ affords the school corporation the opportunity to bring energy savings to each school, with no outlay of capital by the district, no debt and no burden on our community,” said Chavis.

Chavis added that the ability to save on energy and reduce yearly costs will greatly affect the bottom line of the operations fund.

“We are thrilled to engage with FCCSC as the first traditional public school to adopt Solar-as-aService in Indiana.,” said Poer. “We have also made history by signing up Indiana Wesleyan University, Taylor University, and Indianapolis Public Schools which represent the most amount of solar for any higher education institution and public school district in Indiana, and having all of these schools included in our portfolio along with FCCSC will be by far the largest investment a company has made in education for any adopting solar, ever!”