Agency Contact Info
Dean Gray, Executive Director
PHONE: (602) 542-6143
url: www.azsfb.gov
State Agencies
Arizona School Facilities Board (SFB)
Program Description
Through the Federal ARRA stimulus funds, Governor Brewer has directed approximately $5 million to the School Facilities Board for the purchase of solar energy panels for schools. School Facilities Board staff along with the Governor’s office and the Federal Department of Energy has decided to target these funds to small school districts.
Focusing on small school districts allows the SFB to impact as many districts as possible as well as providing a solar system that will have a meaningful impact on the school district.
Therefore, the only criterion SFB will use to determine eligibility is total district square footage. School districts will be ordered based on total gross square footage. SFB staff will then work with each district to determine the appropriate size and cost of the solar project. Projects will be capped at 30 kilowatts. Because each project will be unique, the cost of each project is currently unknown and the number of districts that will be awarded is also unknown. Further, some district facilities may have physical limitations that eliminate them from eligibility. Due to these unknowns, it is impossible at this time to say how many or which districts will be awarded projects. However, based on the average cost of solar photovoltaic, SFB staff estimates that the grant will cover approximately 25 school districts and that the majority of school districts will have less than 25,000 square feet.
Since project selection will be based on total square footage, there is no general application process or application form. SFB staff will contact eligible districts directly to determine if the eligible districts are interested in the program and if the facilities can accommodate solar photovoltaic. The information requested is simple and if necessary, SFB staff will help districts complete the forms. Outside consultants at this stage of the program are not necessary, and will not be funded by the SFB.
Timelines
SFB staff will contact eligible school districts by August 1, 2009. Eligible school districts will have until August 15, 2009 to complete a brief facility survey and to indicate their interest in participating in the program.
Once the survey is received, SFB staff will visit each eligible site to determine in the site can accommodate solar panels. This process will be completed by September 15.
The School Facilities Board will make the solar awards at the October 7, 2009 Board meeting. Funding will be available for design and construction immediately after award.
Available Assistance
SFB staff is available to assist any eligible school district to complete the initial facility survey, procure design and construction services, and complete the installation of the solar panels. Further, SFB staff will assist eligible school districts in monitoring performance of the panels after installation.