Constellation Completes Solar Generation Project For California School District

Central School District announced the completion of the first phase of an aggregate 1.5-megawatt DC solar generation project. The system is designed to generate more than 2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in the first year and meet 75 percent of the school district’s electricity needs.

“The new solar power system will help the district to maintain stable electricity costs and serve as an educational resource for our students to learn about renewable energy,” said Donna Libutti, superintendent of Central School District. “It will help us to save an estimated $6 million to $7 million in energy costs over the next 25 years.”

The solar project required no upfront capital from the school district. Solar firm PFMG Solar worked with Central School District to develop the project. Constellation financed the project’s development and owns and will operate the system.

Central School District will purchase the electricity generated by the system through a 25-year power purchase agreement with Constellation. Rosendin Electric, Inc., provided design and construction services to Constellation for the project.

The project will help Central School District meet its environmental goals and manage energy costs, said Brendon Quinlivan, director of origination-distributed energy for Constellation. It will also provide shaded parking and cleaner air, said Paul Mikos, president of PFMG Solar. 

When completed, the solar power system will be comprised of approximately 5,052 photovoltaic panels located at seven sites: Bear Gulch Elementary School, Central Elementary School, Coyote Canyon Elementary School, Cucamonga Middle School, Dona Merced Elementary School, Ruth Musser Middle School, and Valle Vista Elementary School. Construction of phase two of the project, located at Central Elementary School, is scheduled to begin in June.

The system is expected to avoid the creation of 2,008 tons of carbon dioxide annually — the equivalent emissions from 384 passenger vehicles, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data.

As one of the nation’s top ten commercial solar developers, Constellation owns and operates more than 300 solar installations for business and government customers. Constellation also offers a number of options for funding on-site solar generation projects, including power purchase agreements and solar services agreements that allow customers to install solar without large capital investment and lock in a portion of their power costs over the term of their contract.

California schools and municipalities interested in on-site solar through a power purchase agreement with Constellation may contact PFMG Solar at pmikos@psomasfmg.com or (714)465-4904.