San Ramon Valley Unified School District and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA, SPWRB), dedicated SunPower solar power systems at five schools, totaling 3.3-megawatts of solar capacity. The systems will generate more than two-thirds of the schools' energy demands, significantly reducing each school's electricity bill.
"The SunPower systems will bring millions of dollars in budget relief to the San Ramon Valley Unified School District over the 25-year life of the technology," said Superintendent Steven Enoch. "These long-term savings will allow the district to further pursue its academic mission, benefitting our students today and into the future."
SunPower installed systems at California High School, Dougherty Valley High School, Monte Vista High School, San Ramon Valley High School and Diablo Vista Middle School. Completed earlier this month, the five solar power systems feature 10,272 high-efficiency SunPower® E19 / 320 Solar Panels manufactured less than 40 miles away in Milpitas, Calif. Over the systems' 25-year life, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District is expected to save more than $20,000,000 in electricity costs that can be directed back into the District's general fund.
"At a time when schools are hard-pressed to reduce operating expenses, SunPower is working with K-12 schools, community colleges and universities to finance solar power solutions that supply considerable and ongoing savings," said SunPower Managing Director Bill Kelly. "In addition to recognizing cost savings, San Ramon Valley Unified School District will benefit from the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar on the market today."
During the 2011 to 2012 school year, SunPower is actively installing solar power systems at more than 90 school facilities in California, including the new systems at five schools in the San Ramon Valley School District. Over this past year in California, SunPower has built solar power systems for educational customers including Fremont Union High School District, Los Angeles Unified School District, San Mateo Unified High School District, Kern Community College District and the University of California, Davis. Last week, West Valley College in Saratoga, Calif. dedicated its 1.1-megawatt SunPower solar power system. The company has more than 750 large solar power systems in operation or under contract globally.