May 29, 2015

SunPower Selected To Deliver 22 Megawatts Of Solar Power Systems At 27 Sites For California School District

The Kern High School District (KHSD) and SunPower Corp. announced an agreement to design and build 22 megawatts of solar power systems at 27 district sites. According to data provided by The Solar Foundation, the agreement is the largest contracted commitment to solar power by any school district in the U.S. Once the systems are operational in 2016, the district estimates that it will achieve $80 million in savings in electricity costs over 25 years.

 
“As a result of the SunPower systems, Kern High School District will significantly reduce the percentage of our budget allocated for electricity, allowing us to enhance academic and extracurricular programs and plan additional facility upgrades,” said Dr. Scott Cole, Associate Superintendent of the Business Division for KHSD. “SunPower’s deep experience working with school districts is as important as the long-term performance of its technology. We’re looking forward to generating on-site emission-free solar power to support our operations and our community.”
 
Construction will begin on the solar power systems this summer. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2016, and will be financed through a power purchase agreement. For no upfront capital investment, the agreement provides the district with both competitive electricity rates and a hedge against potential utility rate increases. KHSD will own the renewable energy credits associated with the systems.