San Jose school district unveils massive solar energy project
By Sharon Noguchi
Mercury News
Article Launched: 07/25/2007 01:32:39 PM PDT

Tom Herrington of San Jose, an administrator for School Construction for the San Jose Unified School District, carries a solar panel. Joining a growing trend to "go green," San Jose Unified School District today unveiled a solar-school project expected to save the district at least $20 million in energy costs over 25 years.
The project is designed to generate 5 megawatts of solar power, becoming the largest solar-energy effort among K-12 school districts in the nation, according to the district and its two private partners. When completed in late 2008, it should supply about 25 percent of the district's electricity needs. The district will partner with Chevron Energy Solutions, which will build and maintain solar panels on school rooftops and install energy-efficient measures such as sophisticated thermostats and state-of-the-art fluorescent bulbs.
Bank of America will finance the project, which will cost $18.1 million for the first four schools - Leland, Gunderson and Pioneer high schools and San Jose Academy. Solar panels are expected to be installed there by early 2008.
Chevron is drawing up designs to add seven more schools, which would go online by the end of 2008. The bank will sell the power generated by the solar panels back to the district. Over 25 years, the guaranteed lifespan of the solar panels, the district expects to pay $14.2 million for the power. The partnership benefits all parties, they said. If the district were to finance the project itself, it would borrow $18.1 million for the first phase, and end up paying much more than $30 million, including interest, Williams said. Chevron and Bank of America reap state and federal tax credits and incentives.
The district has long wanted to reduce energy consumption and costs, but had been deterred by large up-front capital costs.
"It's fine to be green, but it's difficult to do that with public money if it doesn't realize savings," said Ty Williams, the district's school construction manager.

Contact Sharon Noguchi at snoguchi@mercurynews.com or (408) 271-3775.