Grant Elementary School Kicks off School Year with Solar

MILL VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Grant Elementary School in Redding, CA will begin this school year with solar-generated electricity. The school recently had a 202.50 kW solar energy system installed, which was built and financed at no capital cost to the district through a partnership with Solar Power Partners of Mill Valley, CA, who develops, owns, and operates over 45 solar energy facilities throughout the United States. Solar Power Partners contracted with Spectrum Energy Development to design, build, and commission the system.

“SPP is proud to partner with another school to show savings and predictable, stable costs in its overall energy plan, and demonstrate to the community that using alternative energy can be cost-effective, efficient, and attainable”

Grant Elementary and Solar Power Partners used a solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), an arrangement where the school pays only for the power produced by the system at a pre-determined rate over the life of the contract. Like many public schools, Grant Elementary is cost and budget conscious, and the PPA ensures a portion of their energy bill will be predictable and stable for years to come.

“As with any public school, we’re under pressure to ensure we make wise choices about expenditure that also benefit the community and provide educational value to students,” said John Krinkel, Grant Elementary Superintendent. “A PPA with Solar Power Partners meant that the school does not spend any cash to install, operate, or maintain the system, and we know that a portion of our electricity bill will remain stable. Incorporating renewable energy has been cost-conscious now and for the future.”

“SPP is proud to partner with another school to show savings and predictable, stable costs in its overall energy plan, and demonstrate to the community that using alternative energy can be cost-effective, efficient, and attainable,” said Bob Powell, President and CEO of Solar Power Partners.

The school will see a forecasted total of $600,000 in savings over the 20-year life of the agreement. The solar system will produce an estimated 290,689 kilowatts per hour (kWh) of green energy in the first year of operation, which is equivalent to removing the annual emissions from 23,510 gallons of gas, or 40 passenger vehicles.

About Solar Power Partners (SPP)

One of America’s premier independent solar power producers, Solar Power Partners, Inc. (SPP) helps businesses, municipalities, schools and universities, and institutional customers embrace solar energy. SPP develops, owns, and operates distributed solar energy facilities (SEFs) and sells solar-generated electricity through solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), long-term energy financing solutions that help customers go green without the hassles or costs of solar facility ownership and maintenance.

About Grant Elementary

Grant is a one-school district located five miles southeast of Redding in the community of Centerville, CA. Grant School serves approximately 123 preschool and 610 kindergarten through eighth grade students. Teachers work collaboratively together at all grade levels to foster small learning communities that strive toward the success for every student. The goal is to enhance their effectiveness as professionals so that students benefit socially, emotionally and academically. This is reflected in Grant’s STAR test scores that continue to be far above the county and state averages. Grant is an exemplary school that supports hard work and taking risk in a constant quest of program improvement.

About Spectrum Energy Development Inc

Spectrum Energy Development is an energy services company specializing in the design and installation of photovoltaic solar systems (on-site power production) and energy efficiency measures (energy reduction) programs for public agencies, commercial, industrial and agricultural clients. Spectrum has now installed solar programs at five school campuses in the Redding, CA area. www.spectrumenergydev.com