Leading energy infrastructure solutions provider Ameresco recently announced a comprehensive energy project with Mount Sinai School District in New York. Rooftop solar PV arrays will be installed at the schools, along with other measures such as replacing old lights with LEDs and replacing existing transformers. The new energy equipment will provide live energy data, which can be used in the schools’ STEM curriculum. The expected project completion date is the end of 2027. Lou Maltezos, Co-President of Ameresco, answered some project questions for CleanTechnica. For the school district, what is the biggest money saver when energy technology is upgraded? The solar photovoltaic (PV) array is the largest cost-saving measure, delivering just over $202,000 in annual savings. Will each school get rooftop solar power and if so, what will be the capacity of each installation? Yes, each school will receive rooftop solar, with systems of similar scale: High school: ~523.9 kW DC Middle school: ~570.5 kW DC Elementary school: ~494.4 kW DC What is the expected lifespan of the solar power arrays? About how much can they save over their lifetimes instead of only using utility electricity? Expected lifespan: Minimum 30 years, with performance still at ~87.4% after year 30 25-year product warranty Lifetime savings: Based on current estimates, the district is expected to save approximately $9.48 million over 30 years through solar generation compared to relying solely on utility electricity. What will the cost of the arrays be and how long does it take to install them? Total solar array cost: approximately $5.28 million across all three schools Installation timeline: Panel installation: 6–8 weeks Full project timeline (including utility interconnection, inspections, etc.): ~6 months total How many jobs will be created during the energy work you will conduct? Or how many of your employees will do the work? All major trades are expected to be locally sourced, supporting regional economic activity. How will the energy work relate to STEM programming? The project will support STEM learning through a state-of-the-art data acquisition system that enables: Real-time monitoring of solar production Student analysis of seasonal and weather-related performance changes Hands-on data use for STEM curricula across grade levels.
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