"Unsurpassed Experience in Solar PV and Energy Efficiency Measures"
News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PHOTOS AVAILABLE
Anderson Union High School District, West Valley High School
Puts The Sun To Work, Commissions largest K-12 Solar Electric
System in Northern California.
Spectrum Energy and D & J Electric, using Sharp Solar Modules, Delivers 245
kW PV system providing clean, reliable savings on School District’s utility
bills.
Dedication & Open House of Anderson Energy Project September 28.
September 12, 2006
Anderson, CA – The Anderson Union High School District (AUHSD) has put in to
operation a 245 kilowatt solar electric (photovoltaic – PV) system and Energy
Efficiency Measures (EEMS) program at their West Valley High School campus.
The PV System/EEMs Dedication and public Open House will be held at the
school on September 28 from 9:30 – 11:00AM. This system is the first phase of a
program that will result in over 1 megawatt of PV systems and extensive EEMs
serving the electric needs of the AUHSD schools. The Anderson Energy Project
was designed and provided by Spectrum Energy Development, Inc. with D & J Electric Inc
providing PV installation services, PV modules provided by Sharp Solar and
power conversion units provided by SMA America
245 kW Solar Electric (PV) System at Anderson West Valley High School Campus.
Photo Credit: Spectrum Energy Development, Inc. and D&J Electric.
AUHSD Superintendent Randy Palomino states, “I am proud that the District has
been a leader in collaborating with private industry, utilities, and the
government to harness the power of the sun. The fact that the District is doing
its share to reduce the burning of fossil fuels and at the same time cutting the
cost of energy in the District for many years to come, is something future generations will salute and
appreciate.” Principal Karl Stemmler notes that “At a time when more and more people
are coming to realize the sun’s potential as a sure source of reliable and affordable
energy, having this state of the art solar system on our campus, will expose our
students to a new chapter in technology.”
The Anderson Energy Project includes associated
major energy efficiency measures (EEMs), such as a new 50 ton chiller off-setting
and energy management system (EMS) controls recommissioning for improved equipment
performance and reduced labor costs. This PV and Energy Efficiency system qualified
for a California Energy Commission low-interest rate loan and provides substantial
savings for the School District. The system will pay for itself in less than 10
years and provide savings for more than 30 years.
According to Jacqueline A. Titus,
Chief Business Official for the District, “I was looking for a way to save money
for the long term and solar is the way to go. Electricity rates are not going down.”
The $2,013,930 PV system qualified for a $853,930 rebate from Pacific Gas &
Electric Company (PG&E) under the California Self-Generation Incentive Program.
“PG&E is proud to have partnered with Anderson Union High School District and
is pleased about the positive impact this rebate will have on the community and
the environment,” said Beverly Alexander, vice president of customer satisfaction
at PG&E. “The district’s success in solar energy demonstrates its foresight
and innovation among California schools.”
Spectrum Energy Development, Inc. (SED) designed the Anderson Energy Project as the first phase
of a multi-phase “solarization” & EEMs program for the District. The PV system
is located at the back of the school property and is composed of racked arrays with
approximately 1,456 high efficiency Sharp Solar PV modules. The power generated
by the PV arrays feed two SMA America inverters that match and control the power
produced by the solar panels with that provided by the electric utility. The solar-generated
electricity feeds the West Valley High School campus and any excess electricity
is fed back to the PG&E grid generating a credit for the school.
According to Titus, “Reducing our operational costs is important to us and controlling utility
costs is essential to meeting this goal. Dan Herman, D & J Electric, a local
electrician, introduced Spectrum Energy to us. Spectrum Energy and D & J Electric
showed us how we could use solar to reduce operating costs. With their help, we
are able to improve our bottom line while doing the right thing for the environment
and our community. Spectrum Energy’s and D & J Electric’s professionals provided
us with a top notch PV system and made the process nearly hassle free. I would strongly
recommend other school districts employ solar power and to take advantage of the Spectrum Energy and D & J Electric team’s experience and capability as a
provider of PV systems to meet their needs.”
“Forward looking school districts like AUHSD, are showing how to employ clean,
renewable energy in clearly economic ways while leading by example towards
cleaner, sustainable future for all Californians.” said SEI’s CEO Donald E.
Osborn. “By generating solar electricity in conjunction with reduced energy
consumption through energy efficiency measures (EEMs), the Anderson Energy
Project at West Valley High School helps offset expensive, and crucial peak
power benefiting all electric customers.” Beyond providing power when it is
most needed, the PV system generates enough electricity for the school to
power the equivalent of over 80 homes while also helping to reduce power
plant emissions that contribute to air pollution and climate change. The PV
system will save some 8,780 tons of carbon dioxide emissions or the equivalent
of taking some 2,450 cars off the roadways.
About Anderson Union High School District
For over one-hundred years, the Anderson Union High School District has been
committed to preparing responsible, productive, self-sufficient young adults by
providing quality student-centered educational experiences and opportunities.
Through academics, athletics, and activities the AUHSD is “Building a Character
of Confidence for all Students”. The district is located between Red Bluff and
Redding in Northern California.
About Spectrum Energy Development, Inc. ( www.SpectrumEnergyDevelopment.Com )
Spectrum Energy is a solar & energy services company providing turnkey on-site
electrical production and energy management projects. The Spectrum Energy
team is one of the nation’s most experienced providers of large scale solar
electric photovoltaic (PV) systems responsible for all phases of the worldrenowned
SMUD Solar Program. The SEI Team has been responsible for over
10,000 kW of PV systems in over 1,000 installations and are among the most
honored professionals in the solar industry. This experience encompasses
excellence in design, engineering, customer service and installations with
demonstrated superior performance. As an independent PV and EEMs provider,
Spectrum works with many manufacturers supplying best-available technology
to their clients. In addition, Spectrum provides a wide range of project
financing options providing increased benefits to their clients.
About D & J Electric.
D & J Electric, Inc. is one of the top installers of PV systems in the State of
California, having a reputation throughout the industry for efficiency and high
quality workmanship resulting in overall customer satisfaction. Local PV
installations include systems at the Shasta District Fairgrounds in Anderson,
California, the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico, California as well as many
residential systems. Many years of experience as an industrial/commercial
electrical contractor along with extensive knowledge of PV systems has placed
D & J Electric, Inc. as the preferred contractor for BP Solar and California
Construction Authority for installation, repairs and maintenance of PV Systems.
About Sharp Solar.
Sharp Corp. is the number one manufacturer of solar cells and modules in the
world and is fully committed to meeting the increasing demand for solar
energy. The solar modules used in the Anderson school project were produced
in Memphis, Tennessee. Sharp recognizes global warming as one of the world's
most pressing environmental issues. To actively confront this problem Sharp
has included in its corporate vision a commitment to have "zero global warming
impact by 2010." Sharp is working to achieve this goal by limiting greenhouse
gas emissions from business activities, while at the same time, increasing the
production of solar technologies to produce zero-emission electricity."
About SMA America.
Founded in Germany in 1981, SMA is the manufacturer of the successful line of
photovoltaic (PV) inverters. SMA has grown to over 1100 employees and is the
leading supplier of grid connected PV system power inverters worldwide. SMA
America’s headquarters in California supplies renewable energy markets in
North and South America with the most reliable, efficient and effective
inverters available with an entire family of inverter models to choose from
ranging from hundreds of Watts up to multiple Megawatts.
About PG&E
With more than 12,000 solar customers, PG&E is a national leader in
interconnecting to the power grid customer-owned solar generation and has
provided more than $140 million in rebates to help customers pay for their
solar generators. PG&E’s self-generation incentive program helps pay the cost
of on-site electric generating systems utilizing either solar, wind turbines, fuel
cells, or micro turbine or internal combustion engine cogeneration systems.
AUHSD West Valley High School PV Project Dedication and Open House
Date: 28 September 2006
Time: 9:30 – 11:00am
Speakers: 9:30am
Location: 3805 Happy Valley Road, Cottonwood, CA 96022
North Parking Lot Entrance – Follow the signs
AUHSD and Open House Contact: Jacqueline A. Titus, (530) 378-0568
For more information of the Anderson Energy Project Contact:
Donald Osborn, Spectrum
Energy LLC
916-213-5978
deosol@aol.com
Photos (jpg) available