Greenskies Installs 1.67 MW Solar Portfolio for Piscataway Township Schools, Advancing District Renewable Energy Goals

Greenskies Solar Installations Contribute to $18 Million in Savings for NJ School District

North Haven, CT (May 9, 2024) – In a significant stride towards its renewable energy goals, Piscataway Township Schools partnered with Greenskies Clean Focus, a national leader in renewable energy solutions, to install a 1.67 MW (megawatt) rooftop solar portfolio. Greenskies installed over 3,700 solar photovoltaic (PV) panels at seven schools and the District Administration Building.

Greenskies funded the projects at no upfront cost to Piscataway Township Schools through a 15-year solar power purchase agreement (PPA). This agreement enables the District to purchase the electricity generated at a low, fixed-rate and outsource operation and maintenance costs to Greenskies for the term.

“Greenskies is proud to partner with Piscataway Township Schools in their commitment to renewable energy and sustainability, said Stanley Chin, President and CEO of Greenskies. “The installation of this solar portfolio marks a significant step towards their goals, and we’re thrilled to play a part in reducing their carbon footprint. This initiative exemplifies the positive impact that organizations can have on the environment and their communities through clean energy solutions.”

Over the next 15 years, these solar projects will offset around 20,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from 4,875 gas-powered cars or the carbon sequestered by 23,000 acres of U.S. forests. (Source: US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator)

“It’s been 15 years since we started putting solar panels on our schools; we really were out in front with that initiative,” said David Oliveira, Business Administrator and Board Secretary for Piscataway Township Schools. “We’ve done a number of solar panel additions over the years, and Greenskies has become a key partner in that effort. I’d also like to thank our Board of Education for their commitment to using less energy and decreasing our carbon footprint.”

Solar energy has been a key element of Piscataway Township Schools’ successful and well-received Energy Savings Improvement Plan (ESIP). In addition to solar panels, Piscataway Schools have installed more efficient heating and cooling systems, LED lighting, motion-detector light switches, and better-insulated windows and doors as part of the ESIP. The District projects that the improvements will generate $18 million in savings over 18 years, which it will use to pay for the upgrades.

Because of these efforts, the federal Energy Star program has recognized Piscataway Township Schools for two consecutive years. In 2022, four Piscataway Schools were designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as Energy Star Certified Buildings. Then, in 2023, all ten district-owned school buildings were certified by the Energy Star program – more than any other school district in New Jersey.

Like home appliances, buildings are also certified for energy efficiency with an Energy Star label. On average, Energy Star-certified buildings and plants use 35 percent less energy, cause 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and are less expensive to operate than their peers—all without sacrifices in performance or comfort.

Energy Star is the only energy efficiency certification in the United States based on actual, verified energy performance. To qualify, the District submitted extensive data in its Energy Star applications, including occupancy, square footage, room temperatures, carbon dioxide levels, hours of operation, types of energy used, illumination levels, and more.

“This is an incredible achievement for our District,” said Superintendent Dr. Frank Ranelli. “It is also a tribute to the years of hard work that our Board of Education and administration have put into making our buildings more energy efficient, as well as the continuous contributions of all our staff members in making energy savings a priority. We’re committed to doing our part to protect the environment and public health while saving on utility costs.”

About Greenskies Clean Focus
Greenskies Clean Focus offers a full suite of decarbonization solutions, including onsite and offsite solar, battery storage, microgrids, and CCHP. Our vertical integration delivers the most cost-competitive solutions for commercial, public sector, and utility energy users throughout the US. From beginning to end, our customers work with a single delivery team. Greenskies originates, develops, constructs, and operates, while Clean Focus finances and owns the systems. Since our founding in 2009, we have developed and constructed over 315 MW of renewable energy facilities across 600 sites in 19 states. Solar Power World ranks Greenskies Clean Focus as the number one commercial solar developer in the Northeast and top three in the US, based on cumulative kW installed.

For more information about Greenskies Clean Focus and its decarbonization solutions, please visit www.greenskies.com.

About Piscataway Township Schools
Serving over 7,000 students, Piscataway Township Schools provides Pre-K - 12 programming, special education instructional programs and services, as well as before and aftercare, youth enrichment programs, and summer youth programs. The mission of the Piscataway Township Schools is the continual development of each child’s intellectual, aesthetic, social and physical abilities in a positive environment that fosters self-esteem, to help all students realize their abilities and gifts.

For more information about Piscataway Township Schools, please visit www.piscatawayschools.org.