PORTAGE — Members of the Portage Area School Board decided to table their approval of two solar agreements with the McClure Co. after hearing from several concerned residents during the public comment portion of Wednesday’s meeting.

The board had resolutions on the meeting’s agenda to approve both a lease agreement that would allow McClure Co. — pending approval of various zoning permits from Portage Township — to install, maintain and operate a solar energy generating system and a power purchase agreement in which the district would agree to purchase the energy produced by the system from PASD Solar LLC at a lower rate than its current provider, Penelec First Energy Corp.

The proposed location for the system is approximately three acres of wooded land behind the elementary school building, Superintendent Pete Noel said.

According to a presentation posted on the district’s website, a potential solar field would save the district approximately $3,218,048 over a 30-year contract. Several residents who implored the board to table the matter, like Tony Farren and Mike Pesta of Portage Township, said they believe the pricing is skewed on current market values.

A cash flow chart in the presentation indicates the projected cost savings each year over the 30-year deal, with the solar panel generating 110% of electricity usage and a 0.5% annual system degradation.

“Numbers can look however they need to look,” Pesta said.

Farren, an engineer, said he thinks solar panels in Cambria County do not cease 100% production.

“From what I’ve learned and understand, it’s 18 to 28 percent at this time of the year in this area,” he said, adding the district would not receive the savings indicated by the chart if their electric costs don’t increase as high as the numbers project.

“It’s an accelerated number in my opinion,” Farren said.

Devonie McCabe told board members she moved her family from Georgia 11 years ago, “and I will tell you, the very first thing I noticed when I moved back here was the lack of sun,” she said.

McCabe, who prayed to give the board guidance and wisdom during her public comments, said she is willing to join a task force of community members to come up with more proposals addressing the district’s energy costs.

“Solar may not be the best option,” McCabe said, noting the community was “not involved” with the district’s proposed plans, which began in August when Eric Petrazio, Josh Grant and Damian Zampogna of the McClure Co. presented their guaranteed energy savings agreement project overview to the board.

At that time, the Mirror requested a copy of the information given to board members explaining how the district could benefit from a solar project from the McClure representatives, who declined to release information publicly, citing the potential of being outbid by another company for the project.

Portage Township resident Kelli Swires said she was happy to see McClure’s proposal on the district’s website but noted she has “no idea” where each school board member stands on the solar panel idea.

“I feel like there’s no transparency with the big projects like that,” Swires said, adding the panel would leave environmental and health impacts on the students, staff members and residents who live near the area.

“I think four months is way too fast to be acting on something as big as a 30-year contract,” Swires said. “This needs to be paused for the sake of our children.”

Zampogna, addressing some of the concerns, said McClure would be contractually obligated to decommission the system at its end point.

A Q&A page on the district’s website states McClure would file a decommissioning plan with Portage Township, which includes financial assurances to cover the decommissioning costs, ensuring the site would return to its original condition once the system is no longer operational.

McClure will be responsible for the removal of solar panels, racking, electrical equipment and buried wiring, according to the page, which states McClure would also be responsible for maintaining the solar array throughout the proposed agreement term.

Matthew Decort, the school board’s secretary, moved to table the solar agreements at the meeting. His motion was given a second by board member Brian Shope.

Decort said he made the motion in order to obtain more information about the project. He said the solar system would put the district in “a good position” financially, but there are many potential environmental concerns the board needs to research further, he said.

New member appointed

During the meeting Wednesday, the board appointed Branden Miller to serve the remainder of Christian Smith’s term, ending the first Monday of December 2025. Smith resigned from the board in November.

Mary Gouse, another candidate for the vacant seat who previously served on the board for 16 years, rescinded her interest in the position, noting Smith would “be a far better board member than I would be.”

“I would give it my all, but I think with technology and everything that he’s interested in, he would be an asset to the school board,” Gouse said.

During its reorganization meeting Wednesday, the board reappointed Kathy Hugh to serve as its president and Susan Berardinelli as its vice president for 2025.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.