OVERVIEW
Fayetteville Public Schools partnered with Entegrity to develop a long-term solar energy strategy designed to reduce energy costs across the district while supporting its broader sustainability goals.
The project includes two solar arrays serving the district through SWEPCO and Ozarks Electric. Structured through a long-term power purchase agreement, the project required no upfront capital investment from the district and was originally projected to generate more than $9.8 million in savings over the 28-year agreement.
Beyond reducing operating costs, the solar project provides students with a real-world example of renewable energy in action while supporting facilities throughout the district.
FROM PROJECTED SAVINGS TO ACTUAL PERFORMANCE
When the project was developed, its financial model assumed approximately 2% annual utility-rate escalation. Actual electricity prices have risen more quickly.
Using the district’s actual solar generation, savings calculated at the originally projected utility rates totaled $750,246. At actual utility rates, those same arrays have generated $890,127 in savings — an additional $139,881, or 18.6% more value, from the same level of solar generation.
The result demonstrates an important benefit of long-term solar investments: as the cost of purchased electricity increases, the value of each kilowatt-hour generated onsite can increase with it.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
- 2 solar arrays
- SWEPCO + Ozarks Electric
- $890K+ in actual solar savings
- Nearly $140K in additional savings from rising utility rates
- 18.6% greater savings than modeled at projected utility rates
- $9.8M+ in projected savings over the original 28-year PPA
- No upfront capital cost to the district
- District-wide sustainability and educational benefits
A BROADER ENERGY PARTNERSHIP
The solar project grew from a broader facilities and energy initiative. In 2019, Entegrity was selected to perform an investment-grade energy audit covering approximately 2.1 million square feet of Fayetteville Public Schools facilities. That work helped inform a larger capital program that included renovations across 15 schools, construction of a new middle school, and major improvements at additional district facilities.
Entegrity’s role included the solar and LED lighting components of the program, helping the district pair facility modernization with a long-term strategy for managing energy costs.
