Switchgear Delivery Delay May Push SCS Solar Project to Spring

SCHOHARIE - A widespread delivery delay in some vital equipment may push the completion of the Schoharie Central School solar project to next spring.

Most of the project has been complete for some time, SCS Superintendent David Blanchard told school board members at their September meeting.

The solar panels are in and the transformer is in place, but the district is still waiting for a key piece, the switchgear, he said.

The long lead time on the solar project is due to delays getting the switchgear, Superintendent Blanchard added. "The long lead times on switchgear seems to be an industry-wide problem right now. We are looking at a work around as the switchgear doesn't look like it will arrive until late spring."

Officials had hoped to have the equipment "hooked up by now," he told board members.

Much of the project was completed by the beginning of the year.

The road to the project in the "lower 40" had been installed and significant work by mid-December was done. All the foundations and structures are in for the panels, as are the panels.

Once completed, the 148 kilowatt project should save SCS about $150,000 in electric costs, Mr. Blanchard said. The district is also eligible for numerous government rebates.

The solar field is to be built on one acre behind the track in the "lower 40."  The total cost of the EPC was $2,750,000.

The project is part of the district's $25.9 million building project that was approved by voters in May 2022. The district looked at either putting more solar panels on building roofs or on the back property before making a decision.

National Grid has provided 90 percent of the cost for the building of the electric vehicles stations, which were also part of the project. Any revenue would go to the district. Each station have two chargers each. The stations were installed last summer and operational by the time school started. Two of the stations were built by the construction area and the rest near the bus garage.

The project does not require any new local taxpayer funds as state aid and the current building reserve will cover the costs.

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In other action, board members:

* Heard a parent of a kindergartner say he had communication issues with the bus garage at the beginning of the school year. They were not sure when the bus was coming on the first day and waited a half hour. There were a "couple tough days with communications."

He also mentioned that the rooms were very warm in the elementary school for a soccer meeting.

Board members thanked the parent for the input and Superintendent Blanchard asked him to call his office.