Buffalo Schools Go Solar

The Buffalo Public Schools celebrated the initial phase of their school solarization project at a February 5, 2018, press conference with New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) CEO Alicia Barton, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Byron Brown, School Superintendent Kreiner Cash and construction executive Daniel Montante from Montante Solar (which did the installations), among others.

The press conference was held in the solar installation lab at McKinley Vocational High School. It included a high school solar installation student speaker since an important feature of the project is preparing high school students for careers in solar energy. Solar panels have been installed on 19 schools, with one more nearing completion, for a total of 3 MW of electrical generation. Solar panels for another 20 schools are in the planning stage, which will add up to more than half of the school district buildings.

The Sierra Club Niagara Group provided the inspiration and much of the organizing for solar panels on the schools. Niagara Group activist Rick Steinberg started the process eight years ago after a chance conversation with the school board president at a civic event, and led the campaign for the Niagara Group, convincing us that this was a realistic goal, identifying key school district officers, and studying the economic, construction and other aspects of school solarization.

Everyone who has experience with large urban school districts knows that change is a slow and uncertain process. The Plant Operations director was interested but not optimistic at first. There were many unanswered phone calls and meetings canceled by school officials. This was a period of turmoil for the Buffalo Public Schools, which had six superintendents from 2004 to 2018, frequent changes of school board leadership, hostile factions and much conflict over educational policy, racial inequity, low graduation rates, insufficient financing and allegations of mismanagement. At one point the mayor suspended the school board and took control. Thus, renewable energy took a back seat. Rick persisted.

Eventually, an interim superintendent showed interest and by 2013, requests for proposals were issued. The Buffalo School Board, which agreed on almost nothing, permitted the process to continue. Technical issues were complex as the Buffalo school buildings have an average age of 70 years, with all sorts of roofs. Hiring and prevailing wage issues had to be resolved. Eventually construction started, leading to completion of the first phase this year.

The solar panels are estimated to provide at least 20% of the electricity for the solarized schools. Along with electric bill savings, greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 2,600 metric tons per year in a city with a high rate of child respiratory illness. Moreover, thousands of children can view the solar energy meters displayed in their schools every day. They will grow up thinking of solar energy as normal, with ripple effects on families and neighbors, as the Niagara Group works with our coalition partners toward new community solar projects.