Valley Energy Solar Installs School’s Solar Panel System

BERLIN CENTER, Ohio — The Western Reserve Local School District has completed installation of the largest solar electric system on a school building in Mahoning County and one of the largest on a school in the state of Ohio, officials say.

In a news release announcing the Installation, Valley Energy Solar, Salem, installer and owner of the project, says it presented the idea to schools Superintendent Jeff Zatchok in 2014 as an opportunity for the school district to produce its own clean energy and save on energy costs.

Upon receiving a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant for 25% of the project costs, Valley Energy Solar installed a 125-kilowatt solar electric system on the roof of the administration building. The installation was completed July 3, the company said.

The system consists of 396 solar panels that will produce approximately 137,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy. This will reduce the energy cost to the school district and lower what it purchases from its current utility provider.

Valley Solar Energy and the district will hold a news conference 11 a.m. Thursday at the school administration building to mark installation of the system.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.