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Irvine Unified School District heats up
Agency's planned solar power platform will be largest for any public school system in the state.
By Kristen SchottPublished: December 09, 2009 10:10 AM
The Irvine Unified School District Board of Education is moving forward with a plan to establish energy-generating solar photovoltaic power systems at 21 sites in its region. It will be the largest solar deployment for any public school system in the state.
The IUSD is contracting with SunEdison and SPG Solar on the clean, silent renewable energy platform, which is projected to save the district $17 million in expenses over the next 20 years. Under the agreement, the district will pay no upfront capital costs, and SunEdison will finance, build, operate and maintain the solar power systems.
The measure was approved this week by the IUSD Board of Education, and it's met with excitement both for its ability to cut costs and save energy, as well as what it offers for students: Solar PV will be added to the district's curriculum through the partnership. Students will work with Internet-based monitoring of the system to track its energy production and consumption in real time, among other features.
"We are excited about the opportunity to educate our students with a real-world project that conserves both energy and money,” says IUSD Board of Education member Michael Parham. “This enables the district to ‘practice what we preach.’"
Among the other positive impacts of the agreement: The system is expected to power more than 6.6 million kilowatt hours of solar energy during the first year at the sites; it could generate more than 120 million kilowatt hours of solar energy over 20 years, which is enough to run more than 11,000 homes a year; and it will offset nearly 130 million pounds of carbon dioxide over 20 years. It's equal to removing more than 12,000 cars from the road for one year.
"It is a game-changer in IUSD's ongoing campaign to conserve, recycle and explore new technologies in the pursuit of sustainability," finishes Parham.
Construction is slated to begin at the first site, Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, early next year, with installation at all 21 locations set to be completed within the next three to four years.
This news comes just as Next 10 and Collaborative Economics release a report that shows O.C.'s green job opportunities have grown by 50 percent between 1995 and 2008. And with programs like this, it's no wonder why.
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The IUSD is contracting with SunEdison and SPG Solar on the clean, silent renewable energy platform, which is projected to save the district $17 million in expenses over the next 20 years. Under the agreement, the district will pay no upfront capital costs, and SunEdison will finance, build, operate and maintain the solar power systems. The measure was approved this week by the IUSD Board of Education, and it's met with excitement both for its ability to cut costs and save energy, as well as what it offers for students: Solar PV will be added to the district's curriculum through the partnership. Students will work with Internet-based monitoring of the system to track its energy production and consumption in real time, among other features. "We are excited about the opportunity to educate our students with a real-world project that conserves both energy and money,” says IUSD Board of Education member Michael Parham. “This enables the district to ‘practice what we preach.’" Among the other positive impacts of the agreement: The system is expected to power more than 6.6 million kilowatt hours of solar energy during the first year at the sites; it could generate more than 120 million kilowatt hours of solar energy over 20 years, which is enough to run more than 11,000 homes a year; and it will offset nearly 130 million pounds of carbon dioxide over 20 years. It's equal to removing more than 12,000 cars from the road for one year. "It is a game-changer in IUSD's ongoing campaign to conserve, recycle and explore new technologies in the pursuit of sustainability," finishes Parham. Construction is slated to begin at the first site, Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, early next year, with installation at all 21 locations set to be completed within the next three to four years. This news comes just as Next 10 and Collaborative Economics release a report that shows O.C.'s green job opportunities have grown by 50 percent between 1995 and 2008. And with programs like this, it's no wonder why. NEXT PAGE >> Related headlines Irvine's BlueFire nets extra $81 million from Department of Energy Anaheim officials may give KTGY larger role in ARTIC Irvine-based BlueFire lights up bioenergy world |
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