SunEdison has signed 20-year power-purchase agreements with six school districts across California to install cumulatively 9MW of solar at 18 schools throughout the state. The installations are expected to save taxpayers more than US$30 million in energy costs over the next 20 years.
The six unified school districts getting new solar systems are Atascadero, Fairfax, Gilroy, Paso Robles, Templeton, and Tracy. The districts worked with California joint powers authority SPURR to arrange the solar power deals with SunEdison. SPURR helps its clients navigate the process of going solar, and has set up a competitive procurement program which ensures its clients get a great deal from a reputable solar company.
Constructions are scheduled to start in the first half of 2016, and would be finished by the third quarter. Each solar system will be installed on a parking canopy, a roof that sits above parked cars at the school. The systems are expected to generate enough energy to offset more than 75% of the electricity used by the school buildings. That same amount of electricity is enough to power around 2,200 California homes a year.
"These school districts are getting a great deal by choosing to go solar with SunEdison," said Michael Rochman, SPURR's managing director. "SunEdison's pricing and terms are far superior to anything else we have seen in the marketplace, and they have the track record to make sure these systems are cared for over their entire life."