TOWN OF MAINE (WBNG) -- With 15 acres of land and more than 6,000 solar panels, the Maine-Endwell Central School District will generate electricity by using solar energy.
Panels will power the entire district, cutting costs and building savings. With the district spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on electricity, they partnered with Renovus Solar to make the switch to renewable and sustainable energy.
"Our energy costs range between $250,000 and $350,000 for electricity annually, and that depends on many variables," said Maine-Endwell CSD Superintendent Jason Van Fossen.
Now, they will be able to save that money every year. With state aid to get the project going, residents also will not see any additional tax impact. For the district, it will provide decades of building savings, and provide more flexibility with spending.
"That's going to offset long-term some of the issues we've seen with fluctuations in our revenue," said Maine-Endwell CSD Board President Gregg Armenzzani.
School officials say the solar array will also be used for more than just powering buildings.
"[If] we're not teaching our students anything about renewable energy and solar power, then shame on us," said Van Fossen. "100%, that will be part of our curriculum moving forward."
Maine-Endwell's solar project is currently the largest owned by a school district in New York State.