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Real Goods Solar and Fremont Union High School District announced a contract to design and install 3.65MW solar electric systems for schools in the cities of Sunnyvale, Cupertino and west San Jose, California. The new solar systems double in function as carports and will be installed at five high schools in the District. Over the next 25 years, these solar panels are will save district taxpayers over $12 million. The five systems will cover 45% of the power usage of each school.
The price of this undertaking exceeds $30 million and is possibly the largest direct purchase by a secondary school system in North America. District voters approved a $198 million school bond, however, and this supports Fremont Union’s solar project. Choosing a company did not come easy, and the district researched many alternative energy options before choosing Real Goods Solar. A system monitoring utility will enable each campus to track the amounts of solar energy generated and used.
Glenn Evans, Fremont Union’s Associate Superintendent, stated, “Electricity is our single largest expense other than teachers and staff . . . Real Goods Solar worked very closely with us to develop a solar power system customized to our energy needs. Solar electricity will be a huge win for everyone – for taxpayers, for students, for our community and for the environment.”
