Project approved by a vote of 212 in favor versus 164 against
The Johnstown community has approved the District’s proposed Energy Performance Contract (EPC)/solar project, with a final vote of 212 in favor and 164 opposed—reflecting a 56% majority. The District’s Board of Education brought the proposal back to voters after a narrow defeat in July 2025 by five votes.
“We would like to thank the Johnstown community for their continued support of our District, and for their vision in recognizing how this project will benefit our students—both now and for generations to come,” said Superintendent of Schools, Ms. Alicia D. Koster. “This project has the potential to shape the future of our District while proactively preparing us for the reality that the District’s electrical needs and costs will continue to rise over time.”
While a public vote was not required for the District to proceed with the project, securing voter approval now enables the District to qualify for an additional 10% in state aid from the New York State Education Department (NYSED). This increases the total aid from 82% to 92% of the project’s cost—resulting in approximately $1,045,000 in additional funding.
The project’s cost is capped at $11 million, but it will pay for itself over time through energy savings, federal incentives and NYSED aid—meaning no cost to taxpayers and no impact on the local tax levy.
The proposed solar energy system is a 2-megawatt array designed to generate approximately 3.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—enough to meet about 110% of the District’s yearly electricity needs. The array will be installed on roughly nine acres of District-owned land located behind Johnstown High School and will be naturally screened from view by existing trees and shrubbery. The site was carefully evaluated and formally endorsed by the District’s Shared Decision Making Committee.
The District’s trusted Energy Service Company (ESCO), the John W. Danforth Company, guarantees energy savings for 18 years and will reimburse the District if actual savings fall short. As a result, the District will have no electricity bills for nearly two decades. Danforth will also serve as the primary provider for ongoing maintenance of the solar energy system throughout the 18-year contract, with the option to extend the agreement to cover the system’s full expected lifespan of 25 to 30 years.
The final step in the approval process is review and authorization by the New York State Education Department (NYSED), after which, construction may begin.