Solar-powered schools are making news these days! Not only are solar panels a terrific way for cash-strapped schools to save money, but its effectively a built-in science lab for learning about energy and solar power. In fact, green schools are cropping up all over the nation.
At Grant Elementary School in Redding, California, students will be returning in a few weeks to a school that merely looks the same as it did when they left in June. Over the summer, the school was outfitted with a new 202 kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system. Using a solar power purchase agreement with Solar Power Partners, the school will not pay any upfront costs for the panels. Instead, it will only pay for the electricity generated by the solar installation over the term of the contract – much less than grid-based power!
Grant Elementary Superintendent John Krinkel commented:
"A PPA with Solar Power Partners meant that the school does not spend any cash to install, operate, or maintain the system, and we know that a portion of our electricity bill will remain stable. Incorporating renewable energy has been cost-conscious now and for the future."
Here's some fast facts about the solar-powered elementary school in California:
- The school will save $600,000 over the 20 years for which the PPA is contracted
- The solar panel system will produce over 290,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in its first year of operation, equivalent to removing 40 cars from the road
- 733 students from preschool to eighth grade, will benefit from the solar electricity at Grant Elementary
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