Phoenix-Talent SD receives $1 million for new solar energy project

TALENT, Ore. – The Phoenix-Talent School District recently received a million-dollar grant for energy improvements.

The district says it’s been awarded the grant from the Oregon Department of Energy to install solar equipment and battery storage at Talent Middle School.

Jon McCalip, director of facilities and projects for Phoenix-Talent SD, says the estimated $13 thousand saved in energy each year will benefit students at all schools in the district.

“Well it goes back to the general funds which funds programs for the students,” McCalip explained.  “So it’s students across the whole district, not just Talent Middle School, because it’s cost savings for the district.”

McCalip says they hope to have the project finished by June 2024.

Phoenix-Talent SD was one of 39 in the state to receive funding from the Department of Energy.

Southern Oregon University had also been awarded $1 million in funding for new solar projects on campus.

A breakdown of all the local awardees can be found below:

  • Phoenix Talent School District | Construction Resilience | $1,000,000
    Talent Middle School installation of 103kW net-metered, ground-mounted PV solar with 560kWh of battery storage and microgrid controllers for off-grid operations, including as an emergency shelter.
  • Southern Oregon University | Construction Renewable | $1,000,000
    Construction of a net-metered 338 kW (DC) solar PV array on elevated parking structures with shading benefit, including installation of eight additional EV charging stations to benefit Southern Oregon University students and the Ashland community.
  • City of Ashland | Planning Renewable | $98,840
    Planning for up to a 1MW net-metered solar farm for a low-income community solar program.
  • City of Talent | Construction Resilience | $116,635
    Construction of a net-metered 33.6kW solar PV system using three solar tracking stands at two sites in Talent. One site will include 10kW of battery storage with backup power provided to a community center that serves as an emergency operations center.
  • Medford School District | Planning Renewable | $85,000
    Planning for net-metered solar PV at two schools, paired with EV charging and possibly battery storage
  • Rogue Community College | Planning Resilience | $100,000
    Planning for net-metered solar PV and energy storage microgrid at RCC’s Redwood Campus to operate campus backup drinking water system in an emergency; and exploring energy storage and EV charging potential at all three RCC campus sites.

© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.

Taylar Ansures is a producer and reporter for NBC5 News. Taylar is from Redding, California and went to California State University, Chico. After graduating, she joined KRCR News Channel 7 in Redding as a morning producer. She moved to Southern Oregon in 2022 to be closer to family and became KTVL News 10’s digital producer. Taylar is currently finishing her Master's Degree in Professional Creative Writing through the University of Denver. In her free time, Taylar frequents independent bookstores and explores hiking trails across Southern Oregon and Northern California.
Skip to content