# DeKalb Schools Expand Solar Power

DeKalb School District 428 expects three solar arrays at Lincoln and Jefferson elementary schools and Menta Academy to begin operating by the end of 2026. Under a $1-per-year lease with SunPeak Power Holdings, the district will purchase the generated electricity at a lower rate, with projected savings of approximately $10 million over 20 years. Ten additional school arrays are in development, but the reported arrangement does not identify an open solicitation.

- The arrangement combines a nominal-cost lease with a long-term electricity purchase, offering public-sector buyers a concrete example of an on-site solar financing and operating model.
- Energy contractors and developers may find the ten additional arrays relevant as a potential project pipeline, though the signal does not establish that the work is open to competition.
- Procurement teams evaluating similar projects can use the reported 20-year savings projection as a reference point when assessing lifecycle costs and electricity pricing; the district’s actual terms and site conditions may differ.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Education, Energy & Utilities
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure
**Published:** November 10, 2026

### Government Entities
- DeKalb School District 428 (DeKalb Schools)

### Vendors
- SunPeak Power Holdings, LLC (Solar-array lessor and electricity supplier)

### Sources
- [A solar race: First 3 solar array projects prepare to go online, save DeKalb schools on energy costs – Shaw Local](https://www.shawlocal.com/daily-chronicle/2026/11/10/a-solar-race-first-3-solar-array-projects-prepare-to-go-online-save-dekalb-schools-on-energy-costs) - Shaw Local