In these times of decreasing tax revenues, looking "outside the box" becomes imperative for public-supported institutions.
 
An example of innovative thinking was recently reported involving a number of school districts in our state. They are looking at a solar project that could help control the schools' energy costs.
 
A plan to put an array of solar panels on the roofs of schools was discussed at a recent meeting involving a lawmaker, Arizona Public Service and four school districts - Scottsdale, Agua Fria, Deer Valley and Mesa.
 
Here's how it would work: The school districts would lease out the roofs of their buildings to businesses who would in turn install and maintain solar panels on them. The businesses would be paid at power companies for the electricity generated by the solar panels which they would add to their electricity deliveries. The schools would pay a flat rate for electricity in return for participating.
 
So the schools would benefit from money received for the leases as well as from stable power rates. The businesses in the middle would earn a profit from facilitating the arrangement. And the power companies would have more electricity without having to build more generating capacity.

It sounds like an all-around good deal, although the full details have not been worked out.
 
Imagine the number of schools in Yuma County, let alone the state, that could take advantage of this opportunity. Why not make use of all those empty rooftops?
 
Our county would be especially appropriate for the arrangement because of the large amount of sun we get throughout the year.
 
It might even jump-start the wider use of solar power if it encourages new technology and lower prices for solar components, which typically take many years to pay off.