Introduction to Solar for K-12 Schools in NC
View the slides from our introductory presentation on how K-12 schools in North Carolina can get on-campus solar at no upfront cost.
Around the country, solar energy is helping schools and colleges save money on their electric bills.
The cost to install solar has dropped more than 70% in the last ten years. And in both North and South Carolina, customers can avoid the high upfront cost of buying solar equipment through leasing.
Across the United States, schools are some of the organizations that benefit most from installing solar power on site. Solar power saves money that can be invested in teacher salaries and classroom upgrades. In addition, on-campus solar helps schools go green in a significant way while offering an opportunity to integrate clean energy into classroom work through hands-on lessons.
North and South Carolina are both ranked in the top 15 states for the total amount of solar generating capacity that they have installed. Yet, both states rank in the bottom half for the amount of solar capacity they’ve installed at schools.
| National Rankings for Solar Power Installed | Overall* | Solar Schools** |
| North Carolina | 4 | 31 |
| South Carolina | 14 | 28 |
So, why haven’t more schools and colleges in North and South Carolina gone solar?
Leasing Is Appealing — But Only if You Pay Taxes
Leasing can be a good option for businesses that can take advantage of tax-based incentives to buy or lease solar panels.
But without the main tax-based incentive, the Solar Investment Tax Credit, it can cost up to 50% more to go solar, whether through purchase or a lease. That’s why so few non-taxable customers — including schools and colleges — have installed solar power systems in North or South Carolina so far.
There is a way for non-taxable customers to enjoy some of the savings from tax credits. In more than half of US states, solar companies are allowed to install solar panels on the campuses of schools and colleges at no upfront capital cost through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Using this revolutionary tool, the solar company owns and operates the equipment and sells the energy to the customer.
Unfortunately, PPAs are not allowed in North and South Carolina. Because utility companies are regulated monopolies, other companies are not allowed to sell energy in the two states.
Fortunately, another option for non-taxable schools and colleges to get solar more affordably has just come to both states.
How Public Schools and Non-Profit Colleges Can Finally Afford Solar
Secure Futures is introducing an alternative that will give schools and colleges in North and South Carolina the opportunity to get solar panels on site at no upfront capital cost.
Enter Secure Futures’ innovative Self Generation Agreement®.
This service agreement provides a way for tax-exempt entities such as public and private K-12 schools and non-profit colleges to access the benefits of federal incentives with no upfront capital expense.
Secure Futures is currently the only company approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission to provide this type of agreement. Similar approval is pending in South Carolina.
With the Solar SGA®, we install solar on your site and take care of all of the maintenance. You have no capital expense and you start saving money on energy right away.
Contact us for more information and to see if your school or college will qualify for solar panels right on campus with no upfront capital expense, and with money savings every month.
