Plan Approved to Install $25 Million in Solar Panels at Six Local Schools

Six local schools could start soaking up enough sunlight to power two-thirds of their energy by the end of summer 2011.

San Ramon Valley Unified School District trustees voted Tuesday to grant a contract to SunPower, a Silicon Valley-based corporation, to install solar panels over parking lots at San Ramon Valley, Monte Vista, California and Dougherty Valley high schools, Diablo Vista and Gale Ranch middle schools.

The solar initiative will be paid for through low-interest bonds as part of the federal stimulus package.

Given the upward trend of energy costs, the district said it's likely the panels would more than pay for themselves in about 20 years. Savings after 25 years could range from $5 million to $30 million, depending on energy costs.

"I certainly think doing solar is the right thing to do," said trustee Greg Marvel during last night's two-hour discussion. "I want to remind people that doing nothing is a risk as well."

Before their unanimous vote, trustees talked about how the district must become less reliant on oil energy and utility giants, like Pacific Gas & Electric, and start building green now, while rebates are available.

"I don't think we can afford to wait," said trustee Paul Gardner.

Artist renditions show how the panels would be placed over parking lots at the schools and act as carports. The panels rotate to follow the sun. The plans and contract approved Tuesday are available for review in the district office.

The contract with SunPower is approved, but there many details remain to be determined, such as whether cash from rebates and money saved should be used to pay down the bond debt or set aside for other reasons.

The board agreed to revisit that subject as a separate discussion item at a future meeting.

"It gets down to whether this saves money in the long run," Gardner said. "And it looks like it will."