A push for solar schools

AUSTIN (KXAN) - It was on the dreary day the House debated the budget when Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, said he got a bright idea.

As Chair of the Technology, Economic and Workforce Development committee, Strama has heard from a lot of experts on how to harness the sun and turn Texas into the solar power hub of the country. He now believes the foundation for that plan is already laid, and it sits atop Texas schools.

"We have all of these schools, 8,000 schools," said Strama. "Generally they have flat roofs, facing the sun, unshaded and perfect for the installation of solar panels."

With school funding always an issue in the Legislature, Strama said this could partially solve the problem.

"Think how much money they would save on utility bills," he said. "And, in the summer those schools use a lot less electricity. Whatever they don't use, they could sell back to the grid and make money for the local school districts."

The fiscal benefit to schools could be millions of dollars. The Austin Independent School District spent $14 million on electricity bills alone during the 2007 to 08 school year. While 11 AISD schools have solar panels behind the buildings, those are used for educational purposes only. So far, none of the schools have installed solar roofs for power.

While Strama has faith that his idea would eventually save Texans money through lower property taxes, due to alternative funding for schools, and it would put Texas on the map as a solar energy leader, the price tag could kill it in the Capitol.

Strama is attaching his plan as an amendment to HB 3405, a bill that establishes a solar energy incentive program through a surcharge on utility bills.

"I'm all for enhancing solar," said Rep. Rick Hardcastle, R-Vernon. "I'm not for just opening the checkbook to enhance solar."

Hardcastle sits on the Energy committee and has reservations on a bill that puts a surcharge on utility bills due to the repercussions for rural Texans.

"I personally have 37 electric meters and only one of them runs my house," he said.

Nevertheless, Hardcastle said he would vote for the bill if there is a solid plan and he said Strama's is the best one he has heard yet.

"If it is going to ultimately benefit the taxpayer, then I could agree to it," he said.

AISD sent a letter in response to what the school district is already doing regarding the environment:

All new school buildings and additions will be built to achieve a minimum two-star rating in Austin Energy’s Green Building Program. Required features include:

• Stormwater-runoff and water-quality controls;
• Roofing to reduce heat island effects;
• 15 percent increase in energy efficiency;
• 15 percent reduction in water use;
• Use of low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints;
• Storage and collection of recyclables; and
• Construction waste plan to recycle or salvage 50 percent of construction debris.

As well, major renovations and retrofits will incorporate best-value elements of the Green Building Program, including:

• 15 percent improvement in energy efficiency of HVAC systems;
• Increased thermal insulation;
• Automated temperature and lighting controls;
• Energy-efficient lighting and daylighting;
• Low-leakage windows and doors;
• Low-water-use fixtures; and
• High-performance roofing replacement strategies.

Landscaping will incorporate native, low-water-use plants and trees for shading western-and southern-facing windows.

In addition, Austin ISD is implementing other sustainability measures and working hand-in-hand with Austin Energy to maximize existing efficiency rebates and incentives, modify Green Building Program policies for the unique attributes of school projects, and develop customized strategies for energy efficiency.

These measures complement other sustainability strategies in progress at AISD, including:

• Low-emission bus purchases: 150 buses total plus one plug-in hybrid in the 2004 Bond Program; and in the 2008 Bond Program approximately 116 low-emission buses and 14 plug-in hybrid buses (pending the results of the current viability study comparing the plug-in hybrid to a 2007 low-emission diesel bus).
• Green Choice Power commitments for approximately 40 percent of district energy requirements;
• District education program through the State Energy Conservation Office;
• Development of board policy and formal sustainability commitment; and
• Installation of electrical capacitor banks.