New Solar Arrays to Cut Energy Costs for California District

SAN DIMAS, Calif. — Bonita Unified School District (BUSD) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at San Dimas High School on Jan. 11 to celebrate the completion of 13 new solar power systems recently installed across the district. The new SunPower Helix solar systems were designed and installed by SunPower Corp. of San Jose, Calif.

The solar arrays — spread across a combination of carports, shade structures and fixed-tilt systems — will together produce a total of 3.9 megawatts of energy. The Helix systems include SunPower EnergyLink software, a comprehensive energy intelligence software (EIS) for solar which quantifies real-time demand charge savings. The system also includes a solar performance dashboard, provides building energy information and issues a solar savings report that helps to identify demand peaks and savings opportunities. Thanks to these innovations, BUSD expects to save more than $26 million in electricity costs over the next 30 years.

The SunPower Helix systems installed at the BUSD sites are expected to generate upwards of 6 million kilowatt hours of clean solar energy each year. Over 30 years, this would equate to removing nearly 26,000 cars from the road, according to the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. BUSD Assistant Superintendent Ann Sparks said in a statement released by SunPower Corp. that the money saved would be used to support the district’s educational programs.

BUSD now owns the renewable energy credits associated with the systems, which were primarily financed by U.S. Department of Treasury clean renewable energy bonds (CREBs) made available to finance renewable energy projects, according to a statement by SunPower Corp. Roughly $2 million of the project’s cost will be supplied through Measure AB funds, which voters approved in 2008.

“It’s rewarding to see a district like BUSD reduce electricity costs through solar power, while demonstrating the incredible potential of renewable energy to their students, the energy that will power their future,” said Bill Kelly, SunPower vice president, in a statement.

BUSD, which serves 10,230 students from the La Verne, San Dimas and surrounding communities, is one of dozens of districts served by SunPower. The company has to date provided energy solutions to approximately 30 California school districts, which altogether generate more than 135 megawatts of energy.