Salem Looks To Sun For Energy At 2 Schools

SALEM, MA — Salem expects to save about $673,000 and avoid more than 5,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions through the use of solar panels at two schools that were activated on Tuesday.

The solar panels are on the roofs of the Saltonstall School and Collins Middle School. The city said the combined energy output from the panels in the first year will be about 551,662 kilowatt hours.

"The decision to go solar was an easy one," Superintendent Steve Zrike said. "It allows us to reduce our energy costs and invest those savings back into our schools, and brings our community one step closer to creating energy sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint."

Solect Energy developed and installed the panels through PowerOptions Solar & Programs. The city said the panels were installed at no cost with a 20-year monitoring agreement. The schools will be able to purchase the energy at what the city called "a significantly discounted price versus electricity through the grid."

"This solar project not only offsets our energy consumption but additionally creates real-life
learning opportunities around science and social responsibility for our students," Zrike said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)