Cary District 26 to add solar panels to 3 schools

Cary School District 26 plans to add solar panels to the roofs of three schools with the goal of having them installed before financial incentives end with the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” backed by President Donald Trump.

Solar panels will be at Oak Knoll Early Childhood, Briargate Elementary, and Cary Junior High School.

The school board unanimously approved the solar panels for a total cost of nearly $3.4 million.

The district will receive nearly $2.2 million in rebates a year after installation, with an additional $1.2 million in rebates from the state of Illinois over the next 20 years, according to district documents.

Allied Facility Partners will also be responsible for Cary Junior High’s roof replacement and repairs at an estimated cost of just more than $1.9 million. That project will be funded through a $20 million bond sale that was approved by voters last year.

“This is below the estimate we provided during our referendum campaign and frees up referendum funds to be spent on other capital projects,” district staff said in documents.

The solar panel costs will be funded through “maturing investments,” according to district documents.

Allied representatives predict that the Investment Tax Credits could add up to almost $1.7 million for the solar system installation. With all of the incentives combined, the district’s total out-of-pocket cost is predicted to be less than $289,000.

“I’m excited about the fact that we will be cash-positive on this at year nine,” board President Deanna Darling said. “That’s huge.”

Time is dwindling on financial incentives that will end with the passage of the federal “Big Beautiful Bill.” The legislation, signed into law in July, calls for the end of Energy Efficient Commercial Building tax deductions.

To be eligible for Investment Tax Credits, the projects must start before July 4 of next year, Allied representatives said.

The district spent more than $461,680 on energy costs during the last school year, prompting staff to look into energy- and money-saving options, according to district documents.