Solar project at Claymont High School reaches completion
DENNISON Claymont will soon start reaping the benefits of the solar field beside the high school.
TMI Energy Solutions President Jeff Borton was telling school board members earlier this month that the system is ready to start generating electricity at the flip of a switch – but the investor wants to wait until 2025.
“It’s all Wall Street money, and they have to decide when they want to spend it so their tax credits are better utilized. We anticipate that January 4th, 5th, they’ll contact us and tell us to go ahead and flip the switch to turn that on.”
The only aspect of the project still to complete is what Borton calls “the landscape package.” That includes the planting of 42 native Ohio pollinator species within the fence of the array that will reach between six and 20 inches high.
“So that seed is best when it goes down in January on frozen ground. That way in the spring when it comes up it’s a healthier crop.”
Workers will also plant a row of 42 arborvitae along the Indian Hill Road side come spring.
“They’ll start out at 3 to 4 feet [high] and they’ll eventually go to 8 to 10 feet. They’re a very pyramidal, narrow plant but it gives some texture to this farm field with this massive solar array sitting there.”The system is projected to save the school district at least $43,000 in its first year.