ORR School Committee members learned about a solar array over the high school parking lot that could save the school $1.7 million in energy costs, but postponed contract approval to get more information.

Chris McCarthy with Sunpower, a California based solar company with a Boston office, and Walter Gray with PowerOptions, a nonprofit that helps other nonprofits negotiate energy rates attended the June 11 School Committee meeting.

The solar company representative said the project would bring energy savings, show the school supports sustainability and could be integrated into STEM education.

Gray explained that PowerOptions’ job is to complete the RFP process for the school and do “most of the legwork to be able to offer you something that we think is a very good deal.”

The nonprofit also helps with the 20-year contract and power purchase agreement.

Gray said that the school would not have any upfront cost, but would be responsible for managing some of the construction project, while Sunpower would maintain the system.

McCarthy proposed sets of solar panels that would go over rows of parking spaces in the high school parking lot. The panels are designed with a tilt to funnel snow and ice into the existing drainage system.

The system would generate a megawatt of power which would allow the school to offset much of the energy it uses.

In addition, “the energy [costs] less than what you’re paying today. So it allows you to get clean energy at a lower cost than what you’re paying,” McCarthy said.

The school currently pays Eversource 14.5 cents per kilowatt hour. The contract would lock the school into a 9.23 cent electricity rate for 20 years.

Over that time, the school would likely save $1,706,081 in current dollars.

The school could also use Sunpower’s Horizons education platform, which provides in-the-classroom lessons for each grade level, in-the-field materials and development materials for teachers on solar energy.

School Committee member Joe Pires was concerned with the location of the inverters and potential health impacts from being so close to what is essentially a power plant.

“You don’t want to be sleeping on top of your dryer or standing on top of your microwave while it is running, and this is much more than your average appliance,” Pires said, adding that, “I’m all for saving on energy, but not at the cost of putting our kids at risk.”

Jim Muse also asked why the middle school lot was not included in the project. The response was that the school would not make nearly as much from the middle school.

One school committee member also asked what would happen at the end of 20 years.

McCarthy replied that if the school did not extend the agreement it could buy from Sunpower, could take out a 25-year loan on the system or Sunpower is responsible for taking down the system.

School Committee members also asked if the parking lot would lose spots. The experts said a definite answer would depend on the final design, but that it might limit the size of some parking sports where the panels end.

Superintendent Doug White said the next step would be to approve contact with Sunpower, but also noted that the company wants to move as quickly as possible to take advantage of the current incentives, and that the school committee need not feel rushed.

The committee decided to get more information and talk to other schools that have gone through this before making a decision.