Distributed Solar Slashes School District's Energy Costs

The Murrieta Valley Unified School District in Southern California will save an estimated $23 million in electricity costs over the next two decades, courtesy of 2.3 megawatts (MW) of distributed solar.

More than 10,000 solar PV panels are mounted atop parking lot carports at 19 schools and at a district support center.

The project is expected to slash power costs by a minimum of $1 million ar year during the first five years – that’s almost one-third off the district’s average annual bill of $3.2 million.

Over the next 25 years, Murrieta Valley is projected to save about $23 million.

The investment isn’t such a big stretch for the Riverside County community. In 2012, it was listed among the top 10 solar cities in the state by PV Solar Report. It was the smallest municipality on that list.

SolarCity designed and installed the system under a 25-year performance guarantee and maintenance contract.  

As is the case with many solar installations at educational facilities, the saved money will go toward academic investments. “As these solar projects demonstrate, we want to continue to save money while doing our part for our environment,” says Murrieta Valley Unified Assistant Superintendent Bill Olien. “The savings our district will reap from going solar will benefit our general fund to enhance the academic excellence we strive to maintain for our students.”

SolarCity has deployed the same solar leasing model at more than 300 US schools and universities.

As the second biggest US solar installer, it is making clean energy affordable to thousands of homes and businesses (including Walmart), and is behind the largest rooftop solar project in US history, Project SolarStrong, which is adding 120,000 rooftop systems at 124 military households.

SolarCity went public in late 2012. Its shares have been up more than 77%, signaling a possible comeback for cleantech stocks.