JOHNSTOWN, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Johnstown voters approved an Energy Performance Contract solar project on Tuesday. The final vote was 212 to 164. The project includes the installation of a solar array on nine acres behind Johnstown High School.
This was the second vote on the referendum after it was defeated by five votes in July. A public vote was not required for the school district to proceed with the project; however, voter approval secures additional funding from the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
The project will now receive about $1,045,000 in additional funding.
The total cost is capped at $11 million. The district said the project will pay for itself over time through energy savings, federal incentives, and NYSED aid. As a result, it will come at no cost to taxpayers, and the district said there will be no impact on the local tax levy.
The district’s Energy Service Company (ESCO) is the John W. Danforth Company, which guaranteed the district energy savings for 18 years and will reimburse the district if actual savings fall short. Therefore, the district said it will have no electricity bills for nearly two decades.
The final step in the approval process is review and authorization by NYSED. Then construction can begin.
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Courtney Ward
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