School district examines solar energy to Lonsdale

A growing number of Minnesota school districts are looking to the sun to stabilize their energy costs.

Tri-City United is the latest Minnesota school district to consider using solar power to save money. School board members are debating whether to join a nearby solar garden that could save the district $187,928 on electricity over the next 25 years.

The board heard about the information from Carl Menk, Director of IT and Facilities for the district, at the regular board meeting on Monday. In the information presented to the board, the contract for a solar garden membership would be for TCU Lonsdale Elementary School. The company is Nokomis Partners that brings clean energy to local communities. 

According to the information, the solar subscription would be for 25 years based on a fixed savings rate contract. Based on its usage, the school is estimated to save $8,206 in the first year, and the savings would be delivered via bill credits on its Xcel electric bill.

See more in the print edition.