HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The Guam Department of Education intends to reduce the cost of utilities by going solar.
GDOE is working with the Guam Power Authority to turn school campuses into “micropower grids.”
“We have begun coordination with (the) Guam Power Authority and contractors to develop a grant submittal converting all of our campuses,” GDOE Superintendent Kenneth Erik Swanson reported to the Guam Education Board.
The initiative would use existing roof space to install solar panels which will allow GDOE to generate, store and sell back power onto the larger grid.
Swanson said, “A discussion in process is intended to develop capacity to store energy on campuses to be able to go off (the) GPA grid (and) run campuses on solar power when necessary to either reduce billing or load shed from the GPA grid without impacting school operations.”
The grant being developed, if successful, could pay for the installation costs, said Swanson.
“GDOE would realize significantly reduced utilities expenses,” he said.
Outsourcing school maintenance
GDOE also is working to outsource maintenance operations for schools.
“Initial coordination and the beginning of the development of scope of work to create a public-private partnership to take over maintenance operations and simplify (the) procurement process in contract management through a private company are underway,” Swanson said.
Currently, GDOE’s facilities and maintenance department handles all 41 schools, a task that has been overwhelming for the limited staff, said Swanson.
“The early stage of developing a scope of work and a need is essential to the procurement process. Recruitment of maintenance workers and continuing to further enhance (the) ability to maintain facilities at a high standard are underway,” Swanson said.
Solar panels are seen in Tamuning on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023.
