Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

CA District Deploying Solar at 8 Sites

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 07/23/19

Orange Unified School District has begun construction on its first solar project. The installation will include a combination of ground-mounted and shade canopies at eight district sites, generating a projected 3.6 million kilowatts of renewable electricity during the first year of operation. The school system, which has 28,000 students, is working with Ameresco on the project.

The district said the use of solar would reduce carbon emissions by 2,512 metric tons, the annual equivalent of taking 533 cars off the road for a year.

"Transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar is a cornerstone of this district’s long-term sustainability plan," said OUSD Energy Manager, Andrew Durrett, in a statement.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ameresco will pay all costs, including the design, construction, operation, and ongoing maintenance of the solar panels. Under these kinds of deals, often, the solar project is installed under a long-term "net metering" structure. The district will purchase solar power generated through the installation from Ameresco and sell it to the local utility; in return the district will receive credits that are applied to its utility bills. Because electricity is worth more when it is used to offset a retail bill than when it is sold into the commodity wholesale market, the approach is projected to provide greater savings than having the district buy the electricity from Ameresco and use it directly in its buildings.

"In today’s dollars, the anticipated savings in utility costs to be realized by this agreement is projected at $5.3 million, which has been confirmed by an independent third-party energy specialist," said Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, David Rivera. Money generated through solar savings will be folded into the district's reserves.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • New Jersey Day School Opens New Science & Entrepreneurship Building

    Saddle River Day School (SRDS) in Saddle River, N.J., recently celebrated the grand opening of the new Dr. Kristen Walsh Hall of Science & Entrepreneurship, according to a news release. The school partnered with DIG Architecture on the 32,000 square foot facility, completed on a 17-month construction timeline in time for the beginning of the new school year.

  • Western Kentucky University, Gilbane Announce “Elevate WKU” Partnership

    Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky., recently announced that it has reached the financial close on a on a public-private partnership (P3) with Gilbane Development, according to a news release.

  • UNH Marks Construction Milestone on Oceanic Exploration Facility

    The University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., recently celebrated a major construction milestone with a beam-signing ceremony for the new Center of Excellence for Operational Ocean and Great Lakes Mapping, according to a news release. The facility’s ultimate goal is to support research, training and technical assistance in ocean mapping.

  • California District Opens New Robotics Center

    The Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD) in Cupertino, Calif., recently held a Grand Opening ceremony for a new, district-wide Robotics Center, according to a news release. The 14,500-square-foot facility was designed by Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA); Landmark Constructors served as the builder and Blach Construction as general construction manager.