A town west of Boston is considering a renewable energy plan that could save more than $15,000 during the first year after it installs solar panels atop a middle school, according to published reports.

Natick town and school department officials are interested in installing panels on Kennedy Middle School, which will cost one-third of what it presently pays. Energy generated by solar power costs as much as 0.06 cents per kilowatt hour while the town now pays 0.18 cents per kilowatt hour.

"You can't beat the price," Bob Bois, Natick's conservation agent, told the MetroWest Daily News. "I think this is a great opportunity. It's a wonderful first step in moving the town toward using renewable fuel sources."

In May, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts awarded Natick a Green Communities Grant worth $175,000, $74,000 of which would be used by the Kennedy Middle School project. With assistance from the solar panels, Natick can decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 60 tons per year.

"We're going to save some money for the taxpayers and we're going to do a good thing for the environment," Bill Hurley, director of finance for Natick's schools, told the publication.