9 Framingham Schools Eyed For Solar Arrays

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham Public Schools is studying whether to add rooftop solar arrays at nine more school buildings, which would complement arrays set to be installed at the new Fuller Middle School and Brophy Elementary.

The Framingham School Committee will discuss the expansion plan at a meeting on Wednesday. The schools included in the solar expansion could include Framingham High School, Barbieri elementary, Juniper Hill elementary, King elementary, the Farley buildings, McCarthy elementary, Walsh Middle School, Potter Road elementary and Harmony Grove elementary.

If those schools get solar arrays, the work would likely be done along with roof replacements, according to a presentation prepared for the School Committee.

Work on the Fuller array is set to get underway in August, but won't be complete until spring or summer 2022, according to Solect, the company installing the panels. The Brophy project still needs approval from the Framingham Planning Board, which may happen as soon as August. That project could be complete next summer.

Solect has estimated the Fuller panes could save more than $500,000 over 25 years, and the Brophy array could save close to $400,000 in energy costs.