Largest Direct Purchase by a Secondary School System in North America
Real
Goods Solar (NASDAQ:RSOL) announced today it has signed a contract
to design and install solar electric systems totaling 3.65 megawatts for
the Fremont Union High School District in Sunnyvale, Cupertino and west
San Jose, California. The new solar systems will be constructed as
carports at all five high schools in the District and are expected to
save District taxpayers over $12 million in the total cost of
electricity over the next 25 years. The five systems will contribute
enough electricity to cover about 45% of the power usage of each school.
This solar program, exceeding $30 million, is believed to be the largest
direct purchase by a secondary school system in North America, financed
by a portion of a $198M school bond approved by the District’s voters in
June 2008.
The District researched many alternative energy options before choosing
Real Goods Solar for these installations across school campuses. The
system monitoring that Real Goods Solar provides will enable campuses to
track their electricity offset in the years ahead.
Glenn Evans, COO/Associate Superintendent, stated, “Electricity is our
single largest expense other than teachers and staff and we can only use
school bond funds for facilities and equipment. By investing bond
dollars in solar, we will save many tens of millions of dollars on
electric utility bills over the coming decades and that savings will go
directly into supporting educational programs and students. 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.”
A Groundbreaking ceremony will take place at the Homestead High School
site on June 9 at 12:45 p.m.
About the Fremont Union High School District:
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area
in the State of California, the Fremont Union High School District
currently serves over 10,000 students in a 42 square mile area covering
all of the City of Cupertino,
most of Sunnyvale
and portions of San Jose, Los Altos, Saratoga, and Santa Clara in Santa
Clara County. People move to the community because of the outstanding
elementary and high school districts. The five high schools — Cupertino,
Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista — continue to hold top
ranking throughout the region, state, and nation.
About Real Goods Solar:
Real Goods Solar is a leading solar energy integrator, having
installed over 4,500 solar electric systems for both residential and
commercial properties. Real Goods Solar offers turnkey solar energy
solutions, and has 30 years of experience in solar energy, beginning
with its sale of the first solar photovoltaic panels in the United
States in 1978. With offices in San Rafael, Richmond, Campbell, Fresno,
Santa Cruz, Murrieta, and Hopland, California, as well as in Boulder,
Colorado, Real Goods Solar is one of the largest residential solar
installers in the United States. Real Goods Solar is publicly traded
under the symbol RSOL (NASDAQ). For more information, go to www.realgoodssolar.com
or call 1-888-507-2561.
Real Goods Solar
Liz Huntington, 415-456-2800
liz.huntington@realgoods.com
