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Solar Power For Schools

Arizona Loves Solar Power For Schools

Arizona is fast becoming the solar capital of the United States, and for good reason, plenty of sunshine.  Arizona also boasts it's fair share of green schools, many of the them with very impressive solar power systems.

New money is now headed to Arizona to retrofit many older schools with solar power in new and more efficient ways.  The money equals about $100 million and it's being provided by a New Jersey power company.  NRG Energy Inc. is investing this money allowing schools to cut their utility bills with no upfront costs.

Solar Panels

In partnership with Kennedy Partners, NRG plans to use Arizona based contractors when the building begins.  This will provide hundreds of jobs, in the construction phase, and the future maintenance of the systems.  The solar systems are installed free and the schools are entering into a twenty year deal to buy power generated from the systems, but not own the systems.  In this agreement the schools will be saving at least ten percent on the electric bills.  In the long run NRG gets their money back plus a profit, which is necessary for their investors.  It's a modest return compared to the amount of risk, but still, a solid investment for the companies shareholders.

At the end of the deals the schools will have the option of buying the systems.  The first schools ready to move forward are in the Continental Elementary School District and the Gila Bend Unified School District.  Many more districts are ready to begin construction also including the Payson Unified School District and the Arlington Elementary School District.

This is happening in part because of a decision by the Arizona Corporation Commission.  They have agreed to let power companies like NRG to sell electricity, generated by solar power, to schools, government agencies and non-profit groups without being regulated like the other local utility companies.

The part of this that excites me the most is the way they choose to implement the solar arrays.  The power will come from shade structures, mainly playgrounds and parking structures.  I own shadebuilder.com and have been contracting shade solutions for many years.  I have always felt that solar power and shade structures were a perfect combination.  In the last few years many others are joining my way of thinking and I love seeing it.

Through the use of these shade structures the arrays will be able to provide eighty to ninety percent of the schools power needs, at the same time providing shade and protection form the elements.  Another major advantage to school districts is budgeting.  The schools will know years in advance exactly what their utility bills will be.  Twenty years in advance, to be exact.  A raise in the cost of electricity, in the middle of a school year, can play havoc with a school districts budget, but not any more.

Because a portion of the  solar projects will be funded by power company rebates location makes a difference in whether the funding is all there or not.  Most of these projects will take place in districts powered by Arizona Public Service.  This power company is regulated by the Arizona Corporation Commission and bound by different rules than companies like SRP.  SRP limits the size of solar arrays it will provide rebates for, so making profitable deals in these locations will be more challenging.

NRG states that few states have the incredible solar potential that Arizona does.  It makes good sense for them to invest money in Arizona solar power, and what better way to do it than solar power for schools?

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