Solar power your school to save money on your energy bills and enhance STEM education for
your students
With Illinois moving toward a goal of 100% renewable energy by 2050, there has never been a better time to start a conversation about powering your school with solar — and on top of government incentives and legislature clearing the way for public schools and institutions of higher learning, Lightstar Renewables will pay you to do so! With Lightstar, qualifying projects can earn passive revenue for the school or school district benefitting from the project. There’s no downside, no fee to participate, and no strings attached.
Lease payments = Consistent revenue stream
At Lightstar, we understand that the heart of any school lies in its capacity to foster growth and opportunities for its students. By installing solar panels on your campus, we're not just talking about cost savings, but investing directly into the future of every child that walks through your doors.
This isn't about the budget; it's about liberation from energy costs that can be reallocated to programs that ignite student passions, enhance educational offerings, and broaden horizons. With us, your school will gain more than just passive revenue from lease payments and government incentives; you'll witness the thriving of young minds as resources are channeled where they matter most.
Together, we can ensure your students shine as brightly as the energy powering your institution.
Lightstar is committed to turning rays into better days for every child's education.
Energy bill savings - for the real world
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, after staff salaries, energy costs are the most expensive budget item for school districts. Installing solar can save school districts millions of dollars with little to no upfront costs.
But don't just take our word for it! Here are a few examples:
A school district in Batesville, Arkansas made headlines a few years ago when it announced that it would raise teacher salaries up to 30% because of electricity bill savings from its solar array. After seeing Batesville’s success, thirty other school districts in Arkansas adopted solar.
Highland Schools in Illinois is expected to save over $2 million as a result of their solar investment and Sheridan Community Schools in Indiana is redirecting $1.3 million every year to teacher salaries as a result of their solar project.
These solar savings are also helping schools make much needed upgrades to their infrastructure.
Eatontown, New Jersey is completely replacing its heating and ventilation systems at no cost to the taxpayers, thanks to the savings from its solar installation.
Enhance STEM learning for students
In various school districts across the country, solar panels are being used as teaching tools for students. Schools are incorporating solar panel installation and maintenance into their STEM curriculum, providing valuable hands-on experience for students interested in clean energy careers.
For example:
Louisa County High School in Virginia offers a course where students learn about solar panels and even install them on school grounds. This initiative has not only saved the school thousands of dollars in energy costs but has also equipped students with practical skills for the growing clean energy industry.
The Solar 4R Schools program in Idaho installs solar panels on school property and provides classroom kits tailored to different grade levels. Students of all ages have the opportunity to learn about solar energy production and contribute to a sustainable future.
By integrating solar education into schools, students are being prepared for lucrative careers in the expanding solar industry, setting them up for success in the global clean energy economy.
Thanks to the availability and affordability of locally sourced solar energy, schools are able to allocate more resources to their students, resulting in enhanced learning experiences for all.
Increase interest in agrivoltaics - Keep the “farm” in solar farming
US farmland is in the midst of one of the largest intergenerational transfers in the history of the country, with many landowners and farmers approaching or at retirement age. With a community solar project at your school property, Lightstar offers the opportunity to integrate Agrivoltaics; the use of land for both agriculture and solar photovoltaic energy generation. It’s also sometimes referred to as agrisolar, dual use solar, low impact solar. Solar grazing is a variation where livestock graze in and around solar panels.
You can inspire students and community members to preserve Illinois’ invaluable farming heritage by opening them up to the possibilities of combining solar with farming. By embracing agrivoltaics, you can inspire students and community members to honor Illinois' rich farming legacy and explore the potential of solar farming.
Lightstar in Partnership with American Farmland Trust
Lightstar is a proud partner of American Farmland Trust. AFT launched the conservation agriculture movement and has been bringing agriculture and the environment together since 1980. AFT’s mission is to save the land that sustains us by protecting farmland, promoting environmentally sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land. At Lightstar, we share in this vision and join AFT in their holistic approach to forward-looking farming practices with objective research and advocacy.
Lightstar in the Media
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About Lightstar
Stewards of the land: you’ve never met a solar company like us. We’re one of the few providers that own and operate all of our projects, and one of the first to provide school, land and farm owners the capability to maintain the viability of their land.
Lightstar is a leading community solar innovator – we deeply care for your land. Our founders are groundbreakers in the clean energy sector and have successfully developed 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects across the United States.
