Vantage OKs solar power agreement

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Vantage Board of Education gave final approval to a proposal to build a solar energy array at Vantage Career Center this summer.

The board on Thursday approved a 25-year contract with Columbus-based Solar Planet to install 4,200 solar energy panels in an area north of the school. As part of the contract, Solar Planet would pay for construction of the solar panels and Vantage would purchase solar electrical power from the company.

The pact also allows Vantage the option of purchasing the solar array after 10 years and up to 20 years from now, but Superintendent Staci Kaufman said it was too soon to tell whether that would be an option the school would go forward with. “We’ll see what transpires in 20 years,” she said, noting that she was happy that the school had a source of clean energy at fixed and predictable prices.

Dave Dwyer, an engineer for Solar Planet who attended the meeting to answer questions, said plans are already being drawn up for the project and have been approved by American Electric Power (AEP), whose transmission lines the solar array would connect to after construction.

Solar Planet would seek a permit for the project from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) after plans are completed, Dwyer said, noting that the project should take two to three months to complete and would begin 4-6 weeks after a permit is received. A permit is expected to take approximately two weeks after plans are finalized.

The array is expected to generate 1,250 megawatt hours of electric power annually, Dwyer said. As part of the contract, construction of the array must occur by July 1 or the agreement would be automatically canceled.

Also Thursday, Vantage Student Services Supervisor Ben Winans talked about Sophomore Day at the school, where high school sophomores visit Vantage to see whether they might want to attend the school as juniors and seniors. Winans said more than 700 students attended the event this year, adding that the deadline for applications is March 6.

He also talked about Ohio Graduating Tests, which will be taken in March by more than 100 Vantage students. Winans commended teachers for putting in extra time to help students with preparing for the state-mandated tests, and noted that students can now access practice documents for the test online.

Both Kaufman and Vantage Treasurer Lori Davis talked about the Vantage facilities project that is now nearly complete. Kaufman talked about the open house planned for Monday, February 25, from 5-8 p.m., while Davis noted that the project remains under budget.

Kaufman also said that a public auction held to sell off obsolete and unneeded equipment was successful, with approximately $12,000 in proceeds received.

Kaufman also talked about the state biennial budget, noting that Vantage officials will be testifying at the state level on vocational education budget needs. “That opportunity doesn’t often come up,” she noted. “We’re thrilled to participate.”

Adult Education Director Pete Prichard also talked about a memorandum of understanding with Northwest State Community College for an academic partnership he said would provide big benefits to Vantage’s adult education programming. Northwest State is funding the project.

The board also approved the appointment of Kaufman to the Putnam County Tax Incentive Review Council and employed the following Adult Education instructors: Vicki Bidlack, Health Careers; Gage Rededanz, tech assistant; Pete Weir, Alternative Energy; and Shane Lee, Gary Dilworth, James Loughrie and Robert Garcia, Police Academy.

The board also went into executive session to discuss personnel and other matters required by law to be kept confidential, with no action taken afterwards.

The next meeting of the Vantage Board of Education will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in the district conference room.