Get ready: We’re close to seeing the juice flowing at Doherty High in Worcester

WORCESTER — Rooftop solar panels at Doherty Memorial High School could start supplying power when the next school year starts in the fall. 

That’s the expected timetable, according to a School Department spokesman who shared information from Fontaine Brothers, the general contractor that oversaw the building of the $316 million Doherty High. 

When the school opened its doors for the first time this academic year, it didn’t have solar panels that were part of the original design. Cost overruns tied to rising inflation were the reason, and the City Council approved a $23 million borrowing to cover the extra costs. 

The panels come with a price tag of $2.9 million that was paid by the city. A spokesman said the city will submit for a percentage reimbursement of the cost from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.

There are 1,942 panels in all, the exterior wiring is finished, and workers are wrapping up the final stages of the process, according to Fontaine Brothers. 

Final approval is needed by National Grid, the city’s electricity supplier, before the power can start flowing. The system is expected to produce 925,000 kilowatt hours annually, according to a city spokesman, enough power to offset electricity used by nearly 150 Worcester homes.   

Students will be able to monitor the amount of power the panels generate and how much energy Doherty High is using from a digital display in the school’s lobby.

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on X: @henrytelegram.