SunPower to Install Solar System in Mount Diablo Unified School District

Mount Diablo Unified School District will go green with the proposed installation of solar systems at its 51 schools. The school district has chosen SunPower to complete the 11.2 MW solar power installations within the school district after a strict selection process.

SunPower is designing to install the solar systems over the hard court areas and parking lots of the schools to provide shade. The solar installation will receive funds through Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREB’s) guaranteed by the district and paid under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The school district chose CREBs to cover most of the interest portion in their repayment, which will be met by the federal government thus resulting in a meager payment of 1.7% interest. The company is planning to complete the installation in phases before the early part of 2012. The school district is anticipated to save over $192 million in the 30 years life time of the system.

Jim Pape, SunPower's president of residential and commercial business group, said that the school district while utilizing the solar installation to lessen its payment towards utility also assists the state to fulfill its renewable energy targets. He called the opportunity as rewarding because it helped SunPower, a California-based company to deploy a technology formulated in California to schools located in California to derive benefits. He added that his company will utilize its experience and exposure to assure the school district, energy savings for a number of years.