A solar race: First 3 solar array projects prepare to go online, save DeKalb schools on energy costs

Leaders from DeKalb Schools District 428 say they are optimistic about the return on investment they expect to yield from the district’s solar array projects, which are preparing to go online near the end of the year. Ben Bayle, the district’s director of technology, said he sees the project generating savings for the district. “It’s supposed to be roughly around $10 million over a 20-year period in total,” Ben Bayle said. The district expects to see three solar arrays come online by the year’s end at Lincoln and Jefferson elementary schools and Menta Academy, which officials said are the smaller of the district’s buildings. Other solar arrays are in the works for Cortland Elementary, Clinton-Rosette Middle, DeKalb High School, Founders Elementary, Brooks Elementary, Huntley Middle, Littlejohn Elementary, Malta Elementary, Mitchell Elementary, and Tyler Elementary schools. It is made possible thanks to a lease arrangement with SunPeak Power Holdings, LLC. SunPeak is essentially providi