Cornell School District goes solar
State Representative Anita Kulik (D-45) joined nonprofit the Pennsylvania Solar Center in visiting Cornell School District to tour its solar energy system, which was installed in December 2024 by BAI Group. The 1300-kilowatt solar system was installed on the roof of the school and is estimated to produce about 1.6M kwh/year, which will offset 100% of the school district’s annual energy usage.
The first public school district in Allegheny to go solar, Cornell estimates the system will save them nearly $2,500,000 over the next 30 years thanks to financing and construction by solar developer BAI Group. BAI Group provided the school with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which allowed the school to install solar without investing any money down. Under the terms of the PPA, BAI Group will lease the rooftop property from the school and sell the power back to them at a rate that is stable and lower than current electricity rates for the next 30 years.
“I’d like to congratulate Cornell School District on successfully installing their cost-effective solar array,” said state Rep. Anita Kulik. “The development of a new energy system to meet the needs of hundreds of students shows tremendous leadership on the part of the school in taking energy bills into their own hands. Going solar will help Cornell stabilize their electricity costs, which will be lower than ever before.”
“Cornell School District is so proud to have turned what was once just an idea into reality, and to have demonstrated to our students that anything is possible,” said Dr. Aaron Thomas, Cornell superintendent. “We look forward to saving significant money on our monthly energy bills, and to redirecting those savings to educating our students.”
“Cornell is the perfect example of how schools, municipalities, businesses, faith organizations, farms, and any kind of organization can often save thousands to tens of thousands of dollars on their annual electric bills with the help of solar,” said Sharon Pillar, founder and executive director of the PA Solar Center. “Going solar is a great way to offset the rising energy costs all consumers have been facing in recent years. And if more schools and other large organizations went solar, we could see a net benefit for all energy consumers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, regardless of whether they are solar consumers or not.”
“Helping Cornell School District go solar without putting any money down, via a PPA, was incredibly rewarding,” said Sel Edor from BAI Group. “We have helped countless organizations who have limited cash on hand successfully go solar and go on to save thousands every year in energy costs, and to use those savings in a much more useful way.”