After four-year process, 25-year deal to build solar farm is OKd
By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times
The 46-acre solar plant will sit near the Coatesville Area High School campus in Caln.
CALN — After nearly four years of fits and starts, the long-planned solar farm at the high school campus plan finally got a formal approval from the Coatesville Area School District Board of Education, Tuesday night.
The 25-year deal with Coatesville Solar Initiative (CSI) will provide green power to the high school campus and Friendship Elementary School, plus $125,000 for easement rights, a three-story solar education and conference center, an electric car and three electric car charging ports. In addition, new LED outdoor lighting will be installed at the high school and Friendship.
Construction work is expected to start before the end of the year.
The initial rate will be $.0765 for kiloWatt hour for years one through three, and discounted market price for the remaining term of the deal, subject to a specific floor and ceiling for the rates. The rates — for years 4 through 25 — appear to have been the last hurdle in the process, as noted during the July board meeting. The district is expected to purchase 6 megaWatts of power, leaving about 1.2 megaWatts available for other customers.
An emotional Bob Keares, managing partner for CSI, thanked the board for signing off on the agreement, which came as a late addition to the meeting agenda.
Much of the permitting and approval work for the 46-acre project with the township has been completed, and the project has been stuck in limbo with the school district for more than a year. The project initially met local objections — due to worry about the impact of various issues from storm water management to the visual impact on the community. After a lengthy approval process, the township finally agreed to an amended plan in 2012. But the project basically came to a halt when the school district was distracted by the September texting scandal involving former Superintendent Richard Como and the ongoing Grand Jury investigation.
In addition to the funds for the easement — which will allow for CSI to access the site for initial construction and ultimately maintenance — the district will get rate surety for its power needs.
In other news, the board formally approved legal fees from Conrad O’Brien, the legal firm representing the district in the ongoing investigation and grand jury inquiry into the district for a total of $146,197.52. It was unclear during the meeting what period of time the bills — three in total — represent.
Rhoads and Sinon, the former legal counsel for the district billed a total of $29,923.99, largely for work completing the agreement with CSI on the solar energy project.
The board also approved $26,069.60 for Susquehanna Legal Group, the law firm of District Solicitor James Ellison.
New Superintendent of Schools Dr. Cathy Taschner reported on the opening of the district’s schools — she said she visited all three district middle schools, as well as three elementary schools on Monday. She noted that although it came down to the last moments, the summer renovation, repairs and upgrades at district buildings all were completed in time for the opening of school.
She noted that the process of hiring a new principal for Scott Middle School is underway, and in the interim Dave Krakower, the district’s Director of High School and Curriculum Instruction is helping to fill in along with building vice principal Brian Davis.
She also apologized for some delays in hiring of teachers, saying she slowed down the hiring process to make sure everyone had their proper clearances and credentials — and were the best candidates.
Taschner announced that she had accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and in turn, challenged all of the local district police chiefs to join her. She said she hoped to schedule a time for all to complete it together.
