October 28, 2020 - For several years, District 121 investigated the installation of solar panels on our campuses.  Solar energy provides for earth-friendly energy usage, an opportunity for authentic hands-on curriculum for students to apply science concepts, and financial benefits (government incentives and significant electric bill reductions), which are available to school districts with solar projects.

WTHS partnered with Performance Services, Inc. to investigate special project and financial details.  We explored both rooftop and ground mount projects and since the summer of 2018, we pursued a ground mount project on the south end of our Almond Campus along Gages Lake Road. 

This project was one of several building projects explicity identified in a bond issuance of $23 million, which occurred in the fall of 2018.  The Almond Campus solar project cost was a nearly $7.3 million capital expense which was offset by $2.5 million in Solar Energy Renewal Credits (SRECS) and other incentives, a net cost of $4.8 million. There is a possibility the District will receive an additional $1.8 million in SRECS in the 16th year through 20th year of the project.

It is anticipated that the solar project will generate almost enough energy to account for the entire electricity needs of our Almond Campus.  The District expects to save approximately $300,000 annually on electric costs with this renewable energy source. 

Below are updates about the solar project progress, which we have shared with our school community through our monthly newsletters. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 10, 2020 

Warren Township High School District 121 Announces Completion of Solar Project

Gurnee, IL — Warren Township HSD 121 (WTHS) is taking full advantage of the sunshine this spring. A new 2.4-megawatt solar array has been completed and will be energized on May 29, 2020. The solar project, identified in the 2018 bond issuance, is distinguished as one of the largest for an Illinois school district and will generate enough electricity to account for nearly all the electricity needs of the Almond Campus—an estimated $300,000 annually. The new ground-mounted solar facility is located on the south end of the Almond Campus, along Gages Lake Road.

After several years of research into the environmental, educational and financial benefits of solar power, the school district selected Performance Services, Inc. to design and install the solar system. The $7.3 million project officially broke ground in October 2019 with substantial site work and reforestation work to meet Lake County requirements. As a result of the project, the district will receive approximately $2.5 million in rebates and incentives within the first five years of operation.

The energy-focused project is an important part of WTHS’s continued efforts to reduce energy-related utility costs and its carbon footprint of buildings and grounds. The energy produced by the solar array is also significant from an environmental standpoint. The clean energy project will reduce greenhouse gases by 2,263 metric tons, equivalent to taking nearly 500 cars off the road or the electricity needed to power an estimated 383 homes each year.

"The fiduciary and scholastic benefits are obvious," said Jim Walz, WTHS Board of Education member. "More importantly, however, as stewards of the earth, it is our shared responsibility to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Also, the use of renewable energy is a key component of our strategic plan. This solar field underscores that commitment, all the while adding to our intellectual infrastructure."

WTHS will also take full advantage of its new solar system as an on-campus “learning lab” for students. Performance Services is a partner with the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project and is providing teacher training, e-learning/classroom lesson plans and solar kits to the district.

“We are pleased to provide a solar curriculum program at Warren, which reinforces our commitment to supporting high-performing learning environments while bringing exceptional value that extends to classroom learning.” said Tim Thoman, President and CEO for Performance Services. “The customizable curriculum will directly benefit teachers and students by engaging them on how their school’s solar systems work,” Thoman added.

About Warren Township High School District 121

Warren Township High School District 121 is a comprehensive four-year high school with an enrollment of nearly 3,900 students. The school district covers more than 50 square miles and includes all or part of Beach Park, Gages Lake, Grandwood Park, Grayslake, Gurnee, Millburn, Old Mill Creek, Park City, Third Lake, Wadsworth, Waukegan and Wildwood. For more information, visit https://www.d121.org

About Performance Services

Performance Services specializes in renovating education and government facilities to deliver high performing buildings with optimal environments.  Renewable solar energy is an important part of the portfolio of design and construction services. The company is accredited with the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO), an ENERGY STAR Partner, and is a qualified provider of energy savings performance projects. The company has designed and installed more than 60 megawatts of solar power systems for customers and $1.6 billion in design-build and guaranteed energy savings education and municipal projects.

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May 2020 Warren Connection Newsletter

On October 18, 2019, District 121 officially began the construction of a solar project on the south end of our Almond Campus along Gages Lake Road, through a partnership with Performance Services Inc. (PSI). The project rests on two parcels on both sides of the Warren Township High School entrance road on land that was previously unused.

In October 2019, the project began with tree removal and excavation of the site. This process ultimately transitioned into post installation, rack assembly and solar panel installation, as well as the fence construction and the boring and installation of the underground cabling. The wiring connections have been completed and landscaping around the site has begun and will continue for several months.

Currently, we are anticipating the system will be energized on or around June 1—approximately one month ahead of schedule. Once energized, the system will generate enough electricity to account for nearly all the energy usage at our Almond Campus, saving the district approximately an average of $300,000 in annual operating costs. This project is also a very significant step in our efforts to be more environmentally conscious.

February 2020 Warren Connection Newsletter

Almond Campus Solar Project Update (as of February 13, 2020)

In the fall of 2019, a solar project was initiated on the south end of the Almond Campus. The project began with tree removal and  excavation of the site.  This process ultimately transitioned into post installation, rack assembly and panel installation, as well as fence construction and the boring and installation of underground cabling. As of today, these aspects of the project are also nearing completion. Within the next several months, the wiring connections of the panels will be taking place. In the spring, it is anticipated to see landscaping around the perimeter of the site, and the system is intended to be completed and generating solar energy by June 30, 2020.

When energized, the solar field will generate enough electricity to account for nearly all the energy usage at the Almond Campus saving the District approximately $300,000 in annual operating costs.  Additionally, this project is a significant step in our efforts to be environmentally conscious.

January 2020 Warren Connection Newsletter

On October 18, 2019, District 121 officially began the construction of a solar project on the south end of our Almond Campus along Gages Lake Road, in a partnership with Performance Services Inc. (PSI). This project had formerly been initiated in August 2018 after several years of serious investigation by the district into the construction of a solar project for the environmental, educational and financial benefits.

The project rests on two parcels on either side of the Warren Township High School entrance road on land that was previously unused by the school. 

In October 2019, the project began with tree removal and excavation of the site. This process ultimately transitioned into post installation, rack assembly, and panel installation, as well as the fence construction and the boring and installation of the underground cabling. As of January, 2020, these aspects of the project are also nearing completion.

Within the next several months, the wiring connections of the panels will be taking place. The spring is anticipated to see landscaping around the perimeter of the site, and the system is intended to be completed and generating solar energy by June 30, 2020.

When energized, the system will generate enough electricity to account for nearly all the energy usage at our Almond Campus saving the district approximately and average of $300,000 in annual operating costs.

Additionally, this project is significant step in our efforts to be environmentally conscious.

November 2019 Warren Connection Newsletter

For almost 18 months, the District has been planning for a ground mount solar project on the south end of our Almond Campus along Gages Lake Road. Working with Performance Services Inc., (PSI), construction was originally intended to be nearly complete by our return to school this year.

The project experienced some significant delays getting started this past summer and due to these delays, as well as a reduction in some of the SREC (Solar Renewable Energy Credit) financing incentives associated with the project, in August, the Board voted not to extend the original project contract and reduced SRECS.  At our October 8, 2019 Board meeting, PSI presented a modified financing proposal and construction schedule which the Board approved. 

Construction on this project officially began on October 18 with some tree removal and excavation on the site.  The project will hopefully be completed by mid-summer 2020.

October 2019 Warren Connection Newsletter

For over a year, the District has been planning for a ground mount solar project on the south end of our Almond Campus along Gages Lake road. This project was with Performance Services Inc, (PSI) and construction was originally intended to be nearly complete by our return to school this year.

The project experienced some significant delays getting started this past summer and due to these delays, as well as a reduction in some of the SREC (Solar Renewable Energy Credit) financing incentives associated with the project, the Board had voted in August not to extend the original project contract and reduced SRECS.

At our October 8, 2019 Board meeting, PSI presented a modified financing proposal and schedule to the Board which the Board approved. Construction on this project is now expected to resume within a few weeks and will hopefully be completed by mid-summer 2020.

It is anticipated that the District will save between $250,000 and $300,000 annually on electric costs with this renewable energy source.  

September 2019 Warren Connection Newsletter

For over a year, the District has been planning for a ground mount solar project on the south end of our Almond Campus along Gages Lake Road. Construction was intended to be nearly complete by our return to school this year.

The project experienced very significant delays getting started this summer.  Due to these delays, as well as a reduction in some of the SREC (Solar Renewable Energy Credit) financing incentives associated with the project since its inception, at the August 20 meeting, the Board voted not to extend the original project contract and reduced SRECS.  Therefore, this particular project has ceased for now. The Board remains very committed to implementing green initiatives and alternative energy sources.

May 2019 Warren Connection Newsletter

Our Almond Campus solar project has now entered the construction phase and we anticipate significant development over the summer months.

The initial steps of the project include the relocation of some trees and fencing prior to the actual installation of the solar ground mounts and panels. The project will be located on the south end of our campus along Gages Lake Road and we hope will generate enough electricity to almost cover the electricity usage of our Almond Campus over time.

Alterntive Energy/Solar Committee Meeting - February 19, 2019
On February 19, 2019, the Board of Education hosted an Alternative Energy/Solar Committee meeting to review the most recent plan of the proposed solar project.  Residents living adjacent to this property were invited to the meeting as was the community at large to garner feedback on the proposed project.

Within the special project itself, a few keys elements of the solar project are:

• the project will have two fields of solar panels; one on the north side and one of the south side of Warren Township road,
• solar panels sit on racks arranged in rows in these fields, and
• the solar fields will be surrounded by fencing. 

January 2019 Warren Connection Newsletter

At the December 18 meeting, the Board of Education discussed the progress of the Almond campus solar project. The District and Performance Services Inc. (PSI) are still waiting on final approval from Lake County on the tree replacement plan, which was submitted in response to the County’s guidance on tree removal that is projected to occur on the south end of the Almond Campus.

Dr. Ahlgrim also reviewed with the Board some prior investigation regarding potential rooftop solar panels. He provided information on an analysis that PSI had completed early on in this process, which indicated that if additional solar panel locations are necessary, rooftop mounts will also be an option. The Almond roof is scheduled to be replaced within the next few years on our capital projects schedule.  Placement of panels on the roof after replacement of the roof could provide up to a maximum of 65% of the Almond electricity usage. 

The Board also discussed having an initial community-wide meeting regarding the solar project in January or February now that we have adequate preliminary information to share.

November 2018 Warren Connection Newsletter

At the October 23, 2018 Board of Education meeting, the Board was provided an update regarding the solar project.  Dr. Ahlgrim reported that Performance Services, Inc. and the school district are still waiting for a final report from the Lake County Forestry Department regarding the necessary removal or relocation of trees on the solar project site.  

If the solar project is installed at a maximum capacity, it is anticipated to generate over $300,000 annually in energy savings as well as approximately $3,000,000 in potential rebates and/or credits.

October 2018 Warren Connection Newsletter

At the September 25, 2018 Board of Education meeting, Dr. Ahlgrim provided an update on our Almond Campus solar project.  He informed the Board that after consulting with our representative from Performance Services, Inc., we are still waiting a final report from the Lake County Forestry Division regarding trees that will need to be replaced and/or relocated.  This report needs to be incorporated in the final engineering scope.  After the final scope is presented to the District 121 Board, we will have sufficient information to host a community forum regarding our solar project.

September 2018 Warren Connection Newsletter

At the August 15th Board of Education meeting, an update on the district’s solar project was presented. For several years, the Board has been pursuing the concept of construction of solar panels to help provide for savings in the District’s operational costs, as well as help support the development of sustainable energy sources and green efforts. 

Within the scope of this energy savings performance contract, the Board currently has provided direction to Performance Systems Inc, to perform the engineering stage of the project design, which will help put more specific parameters on the development of a ground-mount solar field on the south end of the Almond Campus property.  The engineering phase of the planning work should also help the district in the development of a timeline for the project.