Lauderdale County School District (LCSD) made history this week by powering on the largest on-site solar array at a Mississippi school district. The district celebrated the new 223.7 kW array on the grounds of Northeast Middle School by hosting a “Flip the Switch” ceremony with solar partner Entegrity and members of the community.
LCSD teamed up with Entegrity in 2019 to implement an energy savings performance contract that included district-wide upgrades, including LED lighting, HVAC upgrades, security system updates, and water conservation efforts. A crucial part of funding the improvements, the array will offset approximately 35% of Northeast Middle School’s energy consumption and save LCSD approximately $30,000 annually, bringing their total annual project savings to over $570,000.
Dr. John-Mark Cain, LCSD Superintendent, stated, “When we first started our partnership with Entegrity, we knew facility improvements were needed, but we wanted to see how far efficiency could go for our schools. This new on-site array will give students new education opportunities, as teachers can now utilize solar in their curriculum—and show off a real-life example in the school’s backyard. Combined with extensive renovations, we feel this project has transformed our district.”
“Entegrity is proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Lauderdale County School District. Dr. Cain and the board not only saw the possibility to save with efficiency but how to invest their savings, both enhancing students’ current learning experience and ensuring a successful future for their schools,” added Ryan Burrage, Business Development Executive for Entegrity.
