SunPower Solar Power Systems Planned for Five Pajaro Valley Unified School District Campuses
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Today at Hall District Elementary School in Watsonville, Calif., Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) and SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) celebrated the planned installation of 1.2-megawatts of high efficiency SunPower solar power systems at five district schools. PVUSD estimates that, based on its current utility rates, the solar power generated by the systems will curtail approximately $380,000 of annual electricity costs.
"We expect that these SunPower systems will offset approximately 74 percent of the electricity usage across all five school sites, allowing Pajaro Valley Unified School District to use the savings to support our academic and enrichment programs," said Brett McFadden, chief business officer of PVUSD. "With proven, reliable SunPower technology, we are maximizing our savings while minimizing the district's carbon footprint. It is the right thing to do for our students and our community."
SunPower is installing solar shade structures in parking lots at each of the five district schools, allowing the district to take advantage of underutilized space and provide needed shade. The systems use high efficiency SunPower solar panels, the most efficient panels on the market today. Construction is substantially complete on two of the five systems, including a 63-kilowatt solar shade structure installed at the Hall District Elementary School parking lot. Construction of the three other systems is scheduled to be completed this summer.
"Pajaro Valley Unified School District can rely on its high efficiency SunPower solar systems to deliver guaranteed performance for the next 20 years or more," said Howard Wenger, SunPower president, regions. "SunPower works with school districts across California to reduce operating costs and channel the savings to the classroom. It is extremely rewarding to deliver needed savings to our public schools with power from the sun."
According to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the solar power systems at PVUSD are expected to offset more than 921 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, the equivalent of removing 3,480 cars from California's roads over the next 20 years.
About Pajaro Valley Unified School District
The Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) is the largest district in Santa Cruz County, covering 150 square miles and teaching over 19,000 students. The district's student population has over 45 percent English learners with a significant percentage of our students classified as migrants. The district is divided into three zones with the North Zone covering Aptos, the Central Zone covering from central Watsonville to Aptos, and the South Zone covering central Watsonville into north Monterey County. The district delivers its educational program at 16 elementary schools, six middle schools, three high schools, five charter schools, 17 children's centers, a continuation high school, an adult education school, and two alternative schools.
About SunPower
SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company's quarter century of experience and guaranteed performance to provide maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar system. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.
SOURCE SunPower Corp.
CONTACT: Brett McFadden, Brett_McFadden@pvusd.net; or Amy Smith, amy.smith@sunpower.com, 408.457.2718
Web Site: http://www.sunpowercorp.com
