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

  • Year-Round Schools Require Year-Round Indoor Air Quality Planning

    While many schools are out for the summer, year-round schools follow a more “balanced” schedule with shorter, more frequent breaks spaced throughout the school year. Even though this offers educational benefits, these facilities have less downtime for building maintenance. This can become an issue when facilities managers overlook the importance of routine HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning services.

  • UCF Modernizes College of Hospitality Management

    The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., recently completed a major renovation effort for the Rosen College of Hospitality Management, according to a news release. The project modernized 77,600 square feet worth of academic classrooms, teaching labs, and collaborative spaces to support both students and faculty.

  • ZeroEyes, Academic Innovators Partner to Provide Safety Solutions

    ZeroEyes, which produces a multi-analytics weapons detection and threat intelligence platform, recently announced a partnership with Academic Innovators, according to a news release.

  • nursing students talk while studying in a hallway

    Elsevier Launches VR Simulation Solution for Nursing Students

    Elsevier has introduced Shadow Health Lab with Virtual Reality, a simulation platform that allows nursing students to interact with virtual patients and build clinical judgment skills in a safe, realistic environment.