Exeter Superintendent Haller speaks at Harrisburg solar energy press conference

Lauds Exeter's embrace of solar

PA State Representative Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Philadelphia, Chair of the State House Energy Committee, held a press conference yesterday in Harrisburg concerning funding solar energy for PA school districts. In attendance were several school Superintendents, business managers, and communications representatives from across Pennsylvania. One of the speakers at the press event was Exeter Superintendent Dr. Christy Haller.

Haller’s speech during the event highlighted Exeter as being at the forefront of the solar “wave” enveloping PA schools, with the help of state funding through the Solar 4 Schools grants, and reaping the benefits promised by solar advocates. “As many of you have seen in the recent report from Penn Environmental,” she told the assembled, “the potential for solar energy in Pennsylvania is staggering. In Berks County alone, the savings for school districts are projected to reach nearly $12 million. At Exeter, we are not just looking at those numbers. We are living them through our newly approved solar farm at our Owatin Creek Elementary School, which is projected to save our taxpayers more than $10 million over the next 30 years.” The energy generated will provide 40% of the district’s energy needs, in Haller’s estimation.

The total cost of Exeter’s project is roughly $3.4 million, for which the Solar 4 Schools grant of $344,051 is roughly ten percent. Another 40% of the total will be taken care of in tax credit cash, and rebates. The return on investment is 4.5 years, quicker than originally estimated at 5-7 years, at which point the solar farm will be returning pure profit for the district, according to Exeter Business Administrator Brian Feick.

Haller also thanked the Exeter school board for their diligence in pursuing the right solar plan, and the Commonwealth for making the grants available.