ST. JOE — The Ozark Mountain School District broke ground on a 625-kilowatt solar system off of Highway 65 in St. Joe Thursday, June 17, which will meet 80% of the district’s energy needs. The project, which will use fixed-tilt technology and be capable of generating over 1,000,000 kilowatt-hours per year.
According to Ozark Mountain Superintendent, Kerry Saylors, “Investing in solar is the most cost-effective way to support those who work and learn in Ozark Mountain Schools while also investing in a renewable, safe, and sustainable source of generation to keep our community natural.” Saylors began his pursuit of renewable energy over two years ago, searching for properties to place the solar farm and preparing documentation to get the project in motion. He expected to have some bumps along the way but was not deterred by the obstructions encountered. The superintendent, excited about the venture, shared the news with his family over a Thanksgiving meal and learned that the help he needed was sitting at the table. Kim Saylors Laster, his younger sister, is an employee of the Barnabas Team, an organization that provides expertise and solutions to businesses as they navigate the complicated path to sustainable growth. “She took a look at my plans and told me I needed help from someone who knew all of the lingo and specifics if I wanted to get this done. I needed an expert,” Saylors stated.
By collaborating with The Barnabas Team, out of Bentonville to perform the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, Ozark Mountain Schools were able to achieve very competitive long-term rates with Today’s Power Inc. (TPI). The 1,600-module solar array will also be tailored during the design phase to ensure optimal efficiency. The school will be responsible only for buying the system’s kilowatt-hours (kWh), not for its continuing operation and maintenance. Both of these factors combined keep the district’s energy costs steady and manageable.
