September 13,2016-
VISALIA – Solar installations at schools throughout Visalia Unified School District have saved an estimated $1.7 million in energy costs – and have fueled interest in expanding the solar program.The total savings reflect the documented $1.2 million in reduced energy costs as of July 2015, plus an estimated $500,000 in savings expected in 2015-2016.
The solar effort began in 2013 with Measure E-funded installations at 12 schools throughout VUSD, explained Robert Gröeber, assistant superintendent of administrative services. A second phase followed at six additional sites, funded through Proposition 39 and local funds.
Due to the savings generated, VUSD evaluated additional solar to meet the Board of Trustees’ goal that the entire district “go green,” Gröeber explained, and got the green light to move forward.
The next wave of solar installations at 10 district sites is in the final design phase now. Site work and construction is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
“In addition, all new schools in our district will have solar installations as part of the board’s commitment to clean energy,” Gröeber said. “We are also working toward a new solar battery project that will allow us to ‘bank’ power so the District is charged at the cheapest rate. The money the District doesn’t have to spend on electricity is invested back into education, and we are being good stewards of the environment.”
To enable the next solar installation, VUSD has entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with SolarCity Corporation, in which Solar City installs, owns and maintains the solar facilities and sells the solar energy to the district at a lower price than current utility rates, Gröeber explained. Under the PPA, prices will remain fixed for the life of the contract.