Ohio Lawmakers plan to introduce legislation next week that would require Ohio schools to install rooftop solar panels as a way to cut their electric bills and boost the state's green energy industry.

There are 5,000 to 6,000 school buildings in Ohio. The bill would require 25 percent of them to have solar panels, unless a district makes a good case that it's too costly, said state Rep. Lou Blessing, R-Cincinnati.

Under the plan, financiers would pay for and and install the solar panels while benefiting from a 35 percent federal tax credit. School districts would then use money saved on their electric bill to pay back the difference over 30 years.

The Ohio plan differs from many other solar school initiatives in place around the world. In Germany, investors rent space on school roofs and public buildings to install grid connect solar power arrays. Germany's generous gross feed in tariff program make such arrangements quite lucrative for both school and investor.

Probably one of the most generous initiatives in the world is the Australian Government's National Solar Schools Program (NSSP). The program allows a grant of up to $50,000 for just about every school in Australia to install a grid connect solar power system. In the case of dual campuses, funding of up to $100,000 may be granted. To date, over 3,800 schools throughout the nation have registered for the NSSP.

Ohio state law already requires new and renovated schools to be "solar ready" so that their rooftops can accommodate solar panels.

About 50 schools in Ohio now have small scale solar arrays.
Environment Ohio released a study Tuesday, March 24, that showed Ohio is home to more than 440 businesses and research institutions in solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and fuel cell industries.

Source: Dayton Daily News, energymatters

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