Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.’s Central School District completed the first phase of an aggregate 1.5-MW DC solar generation project. The system is designed to generate more than 2 million kWh of electricity in the first year and meet 75 percent of the school district’s electricity needs.
A celebration and ribbon cutting were held at Ruth Musser Middle School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Representatives from Central School District, Constellation and PFMG Solar attended the event.
“The new solar power system will help the district to maintain stable electricity costs and serve as an educational resource for our students to learn about renewable energy,” said Donna Libutti, superintendent of Central School District. “It will help us to save an estimated $6 million to $7 million in energy costs over the next 25 years.”
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The solar project required no upfront capital from the school district. Solar firm PFMG Solar worked with Central School District to develop the project. Constellation, a leading competitive energy company, financed the project’s development and owns and will operate the system. Central School District will purchase the electricity generated by the system through a 25-year power purchase agreement with Constellation. Rosendin Electric, Inc., provided design and construction services to Constellation for the project.
Brendon Quinlivan, director, origination-distributed energy for Constellation, said, “Constellation is pleased to work with the PFMG Solar team in helping Central School District meet its environmental goals and manage its energy costs.”
“We are proud to be partnered with Central School District in being a good steward of public funds and the environment,” said Paul Mikos, president of PFMG Solar. “Shaded parking, cleaner air and energy savings are among the benefits of this project.”
When completed, the solar power system will be comprised of approximately 5,052 photovoltaic panels located at seven sites: Bear Gulch Elementary School, Central Elementary School, Coyote Canyon Elementary School, Cucamonga Middle School, Dona Merced Elementary School, Ruth Musser Middle School, and Valle Vista Elementary School. Construction of phase two of the project, located at Central Elementary School, is scheduled to begin in June.
— Solar Builder magazine
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