Dieterich CUSD Unit 30’s Junior High School Office
Dieterich CUSD Unit 30’s Junior High School Office
DIETERICH – Dieterich Unit 30 plans to replace a section of its roof. The project includes a solar power array to help offset energy costs, especially because of the current incentives Ameren Illinois and the federal government are providing.
Dieterich Superintendent Cary Jackson said the lifecycles and warranties for both the solar panels and the roof are about 30 years, which is why the district is choosing summer 2026 to install solar panels with its new roof. There are six leaks in the district’s current roof, so those areas of insulation will also be replaced.
Ameren Illinois will give the school $67,000 when the solar array is installed and online, and after one year, the federal government’s reimbursement will be $300,000. The Illinois Public School SREC grant will also pay the district every year for 20 years. The district will also be saving money on its energy bills.
“This project will totally, 100% offset the energy cost in the junior-senior high,” said Jackson. “It’s a no brainer, and what makes it a no-brainer are the incentives that are out there right now.”
Jackson estimates the entire project will pay for itself in eight to nine years, and after that, the district will see positive cash flow savings. Jackson calculates the total savings will be about $2.8 million.
During the Dec. 8 Unit 30 Board Meeting, the board reviewed and approved the roof and solar project with Veregy, an award-winning firm in energy efficiency solutions. Since its foundation in 2000, Veregy has completed almost 1,000 school projects in Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. The company also covers the grant writing and rebate process for their customers.
Along with winning multiple awards, Veregy is one of the top solar contractors in 2025 according to Solar Power World, which is the most recognized annual listing of solar contractors in the United States, according to Veregy’s Dec. 8 presentation.
“They do a lot of work here in the Midwest and nationally, as far as solar. It just made sense to go with them because they were the experts, and not only in the construction piece of solar and roofing and everything else, but they know how to obtain maximum dollars from the incentives, the grants, and that’s part of what they do,” said Jackson. “They take care of all of that for us. So they’re the experts in solar and maximizing your grant dollars.”
“With the roofing needing replacement, it was a perfect time to consider rooftop solar PV [photovoltaic] system,” said Veregy Account Manager Gordon Schweitzer. “The revenue generated by the solar assets can be put back into the district to fund other programs or other building project to better learning environments.”
Jackson said the plan is to start and complete the project in summer 2026 in order to have it done before the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
Effingham Daily News Reporter Marie Adamick can be reached at marie.adamick@effinghamdailynews.com or 618-510-9230
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