Berwick Academy installs solar panel system with ReVision

SOUTH BERWICK — Thanks to a new solar panel system, Berwick Academy, will be making the environment a little bit cleaner. On Aug. 10-11, a 144 panel photovoltaic array was installed on the roof of the school. It was installed and financed by local renewable energy professionals ReVision Energy.

The solar panel system will produce an estimated 43,920 kWh of clean, renewable energy each year and offset an estimated 66,767 pounds of carbon pollution each year. This amount of renewable energy is equivalent to preventing 32,530 pounds of coal from being burned per year or 3,408 gallons of gasoline from being consumed each year.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Revision Energy to take our first substantial effort to bring solar energy to Berwick Academy,” said Berwick Academy Headmaster Greg Schneider. “Revision’s great local reputation in the Seacoast as well as with other peer schools made this an easy choice for us.”

The system is being financed through a Power Purchase Agreement, or PPA, in which ReVision Energy owns the solar energy system and then sells the energy that the system produces to Berwick Academy at a reduced rate. After six years, Berwick Academy has the option of purchasing the system at the fair market value and then would receive all the energy the system produces for free. ReVision Energy is working with a number of schools across New England to install solar energy systems using the PPA model, including The Friends School of Portland, The East Rochester School and The Cornerstone School.