Key Points:
Poudre School District (PSD) was first introduced to the idea of maximizing solar benefits for schools in 2016, but took no action.
In response to CforSE member’s requests in 2022 Poudre School District (PSD) commissioned a solar feasibility study identifying six projects that could save PSD $270,000 per year.
Progress was stalled until CforSE reengaged in Sept. 2024. Now PSD is planning to meet with the Colorado Energy Office to discuss next steps, and has committed to quarterly progress reports with CforSE starting in January.
If the Mill Levy (property tax increase) passes in the 2024 election, then PSD will have more staffing resources available to work on solar. They have committed to pursuing solar with or without the Mill Levy.
We will continue to work with PSD, and engage public support, to see the process through to completion.
Please send a quick email to Superintendent Brian Kingsley thanking PSD for taking steps towards maximizing solar potential. Tell him that you look forward to updates from CforSE throughout the process. Please include anything else that you would like to say on the subject.
Thank you!
Superintendent Brian Kingsley: bkingsley@psdschools.org
Contact me for more info or to get involved: cforse.fred@gmail.com
Benefits of schools going solar:
Reduce pollution. PSD might be able to bring over 25 MW of solar to the local grid. That’s the equivalent of 5,000 average sized home solar arrays!
Save schools money. Denver Public Schools are saving over $1 million per year through their solar program. That’s money that goes right back to the classroom. PSD can do the same!
Prepare students for solar jobs. High schools in Pennsylvania are using their solar projects to get students solar certificates so they are ready for the job market upon graduation. Solar jobs pay well and we need a lot of workers in the industry to meet national climate goals.
Latest responses from PSD:
9/12/23 - In a meeting with CforSE director Fred Kirsch, energy guru Bill Althouse, PSD energy manager Trudy Trimbath and PSD Operations Director Jeff Connell, we discussed the exciting potential of maximizing solar, electric busses, and building efficiency to turn PSD’s electric bill liability into revenue generating energy assets. We all also expressed our displeasure with the quality of the McKinstry solar feasibility study. The study excludes any building without a brand new roof and is riddled with incomplete calculations and a + or - 20% confidence interval, casting serious doubt on the validity, and usefulness, of the conclusions.
3/7/23 - McKinstry presented to the board their plan for a comprehensive energy study of PSD facilities, including evaluation of solar at 51 sites. This study should be complete by year’s end. See above youtube clip for details.
10/23/22 - PSD has completed the RFP for the solar feasibility study and will be presenting recommendations to the Board for choice of contractor on December 13th. We will be there (please join us) to advocate that the study be thorough and lead to timely action getting solar on roofs.
6/14/22 - Facilities Director Matt Bryant presented a preliminary plan to the board of education to commission a feasibility study to determine best practices for solar and a path forward. This is what we’ve been asking for! Now that they have stated intent, we need make sure they follow through with action. Matt did not provide a timeline for getting the feasibility study. He also left out the slide in his presentation about how solar could save PSD money. We are asking for both of those things and hope to hear back soon.
Here’s the link to the presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFbopmLcVRc My comments begin at 1:06:34. The presentation begins at 1:38:50.
5/24/22 - I met with Super Intendent Brian Kingsley and Facilities Director Matt Bryant today to learn about PSDs current solar projects and discuss their plans for the future. I also alerted them to a study that had been done for PSD in 2016 that explored their rooftop potential. The study identified 7 MW of projects ready to go at that time (about the size of 1,300 residential solar arrays). They were unaware of this study’s existence. The researcher has since reshared the study with them.
In addition to 25 kW of rooftop solar, PSD is also invested in either Xcel or PVREA solar gardens (Matt wasn’t sure which). Matt is interested in investing in more solar garden investment and putting solar on the bus shed, and in a remote location. He does not want to do rooftop solar out of concern that it might cause leaks and prevent access to HVAC and other rooftop equipment.
Matt’s concerns have long been addressed by standard solar practices and building codes. Bethke Elementary has had rooftop solar since 2009 with no known leaks or other problems. CSU has tons of rooftop solar. Denver Schools have over 40 rooftop solar arrays. Leaving out rooftop solar would potentially leave out millions of dollars in savings for PSD.
From Matt Bryant, 1/19/22
Dear Sascha,
My name is Matt Bryant. I am responding as the Executive Director of Operations, on behalf of Superintendent Kingsley, regarding your communications received by District personnel. We appreciate your inquiry and realize the importance of renewable energy to our community.
Poudre School District (PSD) has an exemplary record of reducing non-classroom operating costs through efficiency improvements and energy design standards, including community solar programs through Xcel Energy and PVREA. PSD is interested in renewable energy options, including but not limited to community solar gardens and site-based solar arrays. PSD is always interested in building relationships with community partnerships to identify funding sources for renewable energy options.
PSD is continuing work on the Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) in which we address renewable energy and utilize available resources from public and private organizations in the development of energy efficiency projects.
We appreciate the time your organization is dedicating to improving renewable energy projects for our community and including PSD in these plans. If you would like to discuss any alternative options including potential funding resources, please contact me.
From PSD Board Chairman Robert Petterson, 12/13/2021
Mr. Kirsch,
Thank you for contacting me about the possibility of solar on our schools. Personally, I am a huge fan of solar energy and have put solar on the roofs of my last two houses. And I would like nothing better than to expand the use of solar through PSD.
Having said that, the district is maxed out right now with the priorities we have. These obviously include strong educational initiatives in the face of the pandemic and, for our operations team, completion of the projects promised in the 2016 bond, among other things. Taking on even an investigation of solar would displace one of these other priorities, which we cannot do at this time.
I will keep your email and your strong interest in supporting us toward sustainable energy in mind for possible follow-up down the road.
Thank you again
Here is a response to our request for information from October 2021:
Dear Mr. Kirsch,
I wanted to reach out after being made aware of statements that CFORSE made about the construction of PSD schools and solar energy.
As I shared in our previous email exchange, the district is not seeking to install additional solar on school rooftops using funds leftover in the construction process or from any other source. This is an important clarification to CFORSE's statements that were shared with me.
That said, I am open to meeting with community partners to discuss possible future renewable energy options, such as covered parking with solar arrays or community/site-based solar gardens. PSD does not currently have an identified funding source for solar installations but would be interested in pursuing community partnerships or funding that would be available to PSD to address renewable energy options.
Thank you,
Matt Bryant
Executive Director of Operations
“Push into the future
In strength, courage, hope, and love.”
Attributed — Sir Francis Drake — 1577