Swampscott Tides
Independent Local News
Swampscott Tides
Independent Local News
Construction and installation of solar panels covering the roof of the Swampscott Elementary School are complete, Superintendent Jason Calichman announced at Thursday’s School Committee meeting.
“Long time coming,” said School Committee Chair Glenn Paster.
The design of the school, which opened in 2025, includes infrastructure for a photovoltaic (PV) solar panel system, featuring both rooftop panels and a ground-mounted canopy. The town aimed to make the new elementary school sustainable through rooftop solar panels and more than 80 underground geothermal wells for heating and cooling.
The next step is for National Grid to activate the panels, and they will immediately start saving energy. The panels are expected to go live by the end of May.
Calichman said the panels are expected to provide 25% energy savings which will allow the district to save money that can be used elsewhere. Calichman called the savings “massive for our budget.”
Last fall, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Cheryl Herrick-Stella said the new Swampscott Elementary School’s electricity costs was expected to reach $300,000 that year.
The town of Swampscott will receive a $200,000 reimbursement from the Inflation Reduction Act, through the Internal Revenue Service, according to Calichman.
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