PARIS — Maine School Administrative District 17 saved $83,572 in one year after converting to LED lighting and is on track to realize an additional $120,000 in electricity savings during its first year of purchasing community solar.

At the school board’s January business meeting, Thomas Seekins, president of Energy Management Consultants, presented the first year’s results of converting school buildings in Oxford Hills to LED lighting systems.

The company and SAD 17 entered into a performance contract in 2023 for the project that guaranteed the district would see at least a $1.2 million savings, the cost of its investment, over 15 years. 

Conversion to LED lighting was done in 2024 at the district’s elementary schools, at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in Paris, its Central Office and its Facilities Warehouse in Paris, and at Oxford Middle School’s South Campus in Oxford.

For the first year, the company projected SAD 17 would see a total one-year savings of $79,393. Its actual savings exceeded that by $4,179.

SAD 17 has partnered with the Center for an Ecology-Based Economy in Norway on energy projects since 2022. Work has focused on purchasing solar-based electricity, reducing overall energy costs, reducing transportation expenses and incorporating energy efficiency into its new construction projects.

Richy Ainsworth, associate director of CEBE, reported results to date at the board’s Feb. 2 business meeting. 

He said 80% of the district’s electricity is produced by community solar farms, resulting in a $36,000 savings since July 1, 2025. It is projected to reach $70,000 by June 30.

Another $27,000 in electricity cost has been saved to date by changing to a coincident peak time rate structure, with another $23,000 saved by June 30, for a total annual savings of $50,000.

“Between the community solar savings and rate change, the district should save about $120,000 this fiscal year,” Ainsworth reported.

With CEBE’s assistance, SAD 17 recently embarked on transitioning heating to more efficient systems. 

“We took out the pellet boilers at Oxford and Rowe” elementary schools, Facilities Director Jason Lambert told directors Feb. 2. “We also removed the heating plant at the high school and installed new propane-fired systems.

“At Central Office we’re adding a variable refrigerant flow heat pump system and removing the old air conditioning unit. We will maintain the oil burner here as a backup.”

Ainsworth said for transportation savings, six new Chargepoint chargers have been installed, and officials are looking at purchasing high efficiency and hybrid vehicles.

Because of the high efficiency construction of the new Roberts Farm Classroom, its roof solar system is producing double the energy needed to operate the building, Ainsworth reported. 

“You’re actually not paying any electricity at Roberts Farm anymore,” he said. “Better than that, we’re producing so much more we’re cascading it to other school buildings. The only cost at the farm is the connection service fee,” which is $49 a month.

By installing solar panels on the new middle school when it is built, the district will generate more energy credits to further increase district-generated electricity to other buildings in the eight-town district.

SAD 17 administrators meet monthly with the CEBE team. Ainsworth said discussions are transitioning to expanding solar to other sites.