Looking Toward A Bright Future

"It's the right thing to do."

That's how San Ramon Valley Unified School District Superintendent Steven Enoch summed up the district's solar panel project at a dedication Monday afternoon at Monte Vista High School.

The ceremony was to officially welcome the solar panel projects that have been built at five district schools. They are Monte Vista High, California High, Dougherty Valley High, San Ramon Valley High and Diablo Vista Middle School.

"This is momentous for the schools and for the environmental movement," said district board member Greg Marvel.

What the projects do

The five schools were chosen in part because of the open available land on their sites.

There are more than 10,000 panels built over parking lots and installed by SunPower, a solar energy company based in San Jose.

The solar facilities began generating power at some of the schools on Oct. 1.

District officials say they will provide 70 percent of the electricity the schools need and reduce the campuses' electric bills by 90 percent.

"This is one of the smartest things fiscally the school district has ever done," said Marvel.

Enoch repeated his theme that the solar panels are "the right thing to do."

He said they are good for the environment, they are a good energy-conscious example for students and they are good for the district's budget. He also noted the project created 150 construction jobs in addition to work for SunPower employees.

"This action speaks loudly to our community and to our students," said Enoch.

He said the payoff will come in the years to come.

"The real benefits to what you see above you today won't been seen by us," said Enoch. "It's a gift for the students of the future."

Financial benefits

Critics have said the benefits of the solar project are overestimated. They are also concerned about how the district will pay off the project's debt if the savings aren't realized.

The district received a zero-interest federal construction loan of $25 million for the project. District officials say the solar panels will save the district millions of dollars a year in electricity costs.

They say those savings will pay off the bonds in 16 years. During the next nine years of the project's 25-year life, the district will be able to use the savings for other education expenses.

Enoch said the district decided to use the federal funds for a solar program instead of a more traditional brick-and-mortar project because of the long-term savings.

Bill Kelly, SunPower's corporation managing director, acknowleged the district's courage in approving a somewhat controversial project.

"It's a difficult decision for a school district to make," he said.

SunPower also brought in 16 San Ramon Valley students this past summer for a two-week internship at their offices.

Three of those interns spoke at Monday's ceremony. They were Kaitlyn Elvidge, Lauren D'Agostino and Mikaela Foster, all from San Ramon Valley High. They talked about what they learned in those two weeks.

"These panels are a powerful reminder to all students of the importance of alternative energy," said Elvidge.

Answering the critics

Several Patch readers have questioned the programs in the comments section of previous stories. We put some of their questions to Enoch:

Q. How they can be sure the savings estimates are accurate when they came from SunPower?

A. Enoch said the district hired an independent analyst to examine the figures. They also had a committee that contained several energy experts.

Q. How will the district pay off the bonds if the projected energy savings aren't accurate?

A. Enoch said there is a 95 percent guarantee from SunPower in their contract. If the savings fall below that 95 percent, SunPower will pick up the tab.

Q. Why didn't the district wait a few years until solar technology is better and cheaper?

A. Enoch said any technology changes rapidly, and you have to install it at some point. You can't keep waiting. He added the federal loan was available for only a certain period of time.

"We had to seize the moment," he said. "We had to grab the opportunity for the funding."

Enoch said the district hopes to use $700,000 left over from the loan as well as some of the energy savings to install solar panels next year at Gale Ranch Middle School.