San Diego District to Start Construction of Solar Projects

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Unified School District is set to begin construction this fall on a 23,000-panel solar array located on top of 80-plus rooftops at 20 sites district-wide. The projects will provide the district with 5.2 megawatts of solar power, which when combined with SDUSD’s existing 4.17 MW of solar arrays, will make the district one of the largest school generators of solar electricity in the nation. 

 

In June, district officials approved a 22-year solar power purchase agreement with AMSOLAR Corp., a Solana Beach, Calif.-based developer of solar systems. Under the contract, AMSOLAR will install, own, operate, and maintain the panels. SDUSD will purchase approximately $35 million in solar-generated electricity from AMSOLAR, saving somewhere between $13 million and $20 million over the life of the contract. AMSOLAR will also engage in school and community programs in San Diego to provide education on renewable resources.

 

The new solar systems will produce roughly 11 percent of the district’s total energy needs, resulting in SDUSD having solar arrays at 48 total sites, altogether producing roughly enough energy to power 9,380 homes.